Dani Ceballos fired a LaLiga debut double to ease pressure on boss Zinedine Zidane as Real Madrid edged out Alaves 2-1.
Former Betis midfielder Ceballos capped his league debut for Real with a smart first-half brace that set Zidane’s men back to winning ways.
The 21-year-old was reported to have been frustrated to remain an unused replacement as Real crashed 1-0 to his former club Betis on Wednesday night.
Star man – Dani Ceballos
The former Betis midfielder kick-started his Real career with a two-goal brace on his LaLiga debut for the capital club. The 21-year-old’s first-half double spared Madrid’s blushes in ensuring Zinedine Zidane’s men got back to winning ways.
Stat of the day
Real set a new record by scoring in their 33rd consecutive LaLiga match away from home. The last time Real failed to score away from home came in a 1-0 defeat at Villarreal on December 13, 2015.
Moment of the match
Ceballos’ neatly-struck opening goal set Real on track. The midfielder may have rode his luck in shaking off two challenges in the box to emerge with the ball, but the measured finish lacked nothing for precision.
Alaves: Fernando Pacheco 4, Carlos Vigaray 5, Rodrigo Ely 6, Guillermo Maripan 6, Ruben Duarte 6, Daniel Torres 6, Manu Garcia 7, Burgui 6, Alvaro Medran 6, Ibai Gomez 6, El Haddadi Munir 7. Substitutes: Alexis (for Vigaray, 45) 6, Ruben Sobrino (for Gomez, 81) 6, Alfonso Pedraza (for Burgui, 66), 8.
Real Madrid: Keylor Navas 8, Dani Carvajal 6, Raphael Varane 5, Sergio Ramos 6, Nacho 6, Dani Ceballos 8, Casemiro 6, Isco 7, Lucas 7, Cristiano Ronaldo 7, Marco Asensio 6. Substitutes: Marcos Llorente (for Ceballos, 72) 6, Borja Mayoral Moya (for Isco, 90) 6.