La Liga: Alaba scores Real Madrid’s winner from the bench, Barcelona can’t score

The first round of La Liga is over and it has produced some surprising results. Real Madrid had to turn it around in the second half against newcomer Almeria, while Barcelona failed to beat Rayo Vallecano for the third time in a row.

Real Madrid

Let’s start with the reigning champion. Real Madrid won another trophy this week, beating Frankfurt in the European Super Cup. Ahead of Sunday night’s game at Almería, Carlo Ancelotti has shuffled the line-up slightly. For the first time, reinforcements Antonio Rüdiger and Aurélien Tchouaméni appeared in the starting line-up, while compared to Frankfurt, Nacho, Lucas Vázquez and Eduardo Camavinga were also in the starting line-up.

But Los Blancos seemed to start at an exhibition pace and the tenacious newcomer caught him by surprise. Almería went ahead in the sixth minute thanks to Ramazani, after which Real took the reins and created several chances, only to waste them punishingly. In the first half alone, the Merengues notched 17 shots, 7 on target, 15 corners and 68% ball possession.

In the second half, the reigning champion upped the ante even more and it bore the desired fruit. In the 61st minute, Vinícius snuck in the whitewash, his shot was parried by goalkeeper Martinez to Benzema, who slipped the ball from a defender to Vazquez, who tapped it into the net.

In the 75th minute, Modric was fouled just outside the box. Ancelotti took advantage of the situation and sent on the skilful left-back David Alaba, who was told to take a direct kick and score immediately. The Austrian all-rounder obeyed and sent the ball against the bar and into the net with his first touch.

Barcelona

Barcelona managed to register most of their reinforcements at the last minute, bringing in Andreas Christensen, Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Franck Kessié and Ousmane Dembélé with Sergi Roberto signing a new contract. The only one still waiting is Jules Koundé.

The moose optically handed Barcelona the ball, as Rayo Vallecano came to Camp Nou, so the fans were expecting a lot of goals and a positive mood for the new season. But it was really only optically, the Madrid side is not really a favourite opponent for the Blaugranas.

Since their return to the elite last year, Rayo have not lost to Barcelona. Last season it won twice 1: 0, now came a goalless draw. And Culés hasn’t been helped by financial leverage and the fact that it is the biggest spending team in the world in the summer transfer window.

Barcelona’s brand new attack created a few chances, but they couldn’t beat a well-prepared Raya defence and a great catching Dimitrievski. In the setup, the Catalans’ captain Sergio Busquets crowned the Catalans’ downfall, seeing a red card for an elbow strike.

Atlético Madrid

The Colchoneros didn’t have to travel very far in their first game, only going to the Madrid suburb of Getafe. Atletico didn’t have to work too hard to win comfortably 3: 0, just 5 shots on target.

João Felix scored a hat-trick of assists. Two goals were also scored by Juventus returnee Álvaro Morata. The third goal was scored by substitute Antoinne Griezmann.

The win put Atlético at the top of the table alongside Villarreal and Betis, who also won 3-0.

Sevilla

Another surprising result for Sevilla, who fell to Osasuna. The home side’s striker Chima Avila opened the scoring in the ninth minute, but Rafa Mir equalised in the eleventh minute.

In the second half, the Andalusians wanted to turn the game around and pushed forward, but it was Osasuna who struck. Aimar Oroz converted a penalty in the 74th minute to put the hosts in front.

Osasuna held on to win 2-1. For Sevilla, this is a big blow to their club ambitions right from the start.

Source:: La Liga