Mueez Ajao
– Champions Real Madrid overcame a slow start in their first match of the LaLiga season with a 2-1 comeback win over Almeria at the Power Horse Stadium on Sunday night.
– David Alaba netted a divine winner after Lucas Vazquez had drawn Madrid level following a surprise opener from Almeria’s Largie Ramazani in the sixth minute.
– The newly-promoted hosts took a shock lead early in the first half with a classy goal through Ramazani, who picked up a perfect ball over the top of the Madrid defense, took one touch and fired a low line drive past Thibaut Courtois to make it 1-0.
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– Carlo Ancelotti’s side — which included five changes to the starting 11 that won both the Champions League and the UEFA Super Cup — applied plenty of pressure throughout the first half and even had a Vazquez goal ruled out for offside as Almeria clung to their narrow lead until half-time.
– Madrid ratcheted through the gears and found their equaliser just after the hour mark when Vazquez pounced on a loose ball and scored from close range following Vinicius Junior’s hard-charging run into the area.
– Alaba made the ultimate impact as a substitute, scoring the go-ahead goal with his first touch after coming on for Ferland Mendy. The Austria international bent the ball up and over the Almeria wall from a free kick into the top corner after Luka Modric was brought down just outside the penalty area.
🏁 FT: @UDAlmeria_Eng 1-2 @realmadriden
⚽ Ramazani 6'; @Lucasvazquez91 61', @David_Alaba 75'#AlmeríaRealMadrid | #Emirates pic.twitter.com/RaDhor7yQR
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) August 14, 2022
