Real Madrid won in added time at Alavés (1-0) on Thursday evening and took control of La Liga just before the break, taking advantage of Girona’s misstep. Yet reduced to ten from the 54th minute and the exclusion of its captain Nacho Fernandez, Real scored by Lucas Vazquez with a header from a corner hit on the left by Toni Kroos (90+2).
Carlo Ancelotti’s team ends the year in first place, tied on points with Girona (2nd), hooked at the end of the match by Betis a little earlier in the evening in Seville (1-1). In 18 days, Real is also the only team in La Liga to have beaten Girona this season: 3-0 in Catalonia on September 30 during the 8th day.
Atlético Madrid match late
In the Basque Country, Alavés (16th) was trapped in added time against Real who, however, had hardly been dangerous until then. Vazquez’s goal, however, came to punish the excessive caution of the locals, who never knew how to take advantage of their numerical advantage. Nacho Fernandez was very logically excluded for a very nasty foul on striker Samuel “Samu” Omorodion (54th).
After being alerted by the video assistance, the referee of the match Isidro Diaz de Mera sent a direct red card to the Madrid central defender. Silent on Thursday evening, Real’s English striker Jude Bellingham remains at the top of the scorers’ standings (13), ahead of Borja Mayoral (Getafe, 12), Artem Dovbyk (Girona, 11) and Antoine Griezmann (Atlético, 11).
On Saturday, Atlético Madrid (4th, 3 pts from Barça) will play a late match on the 4th day against Sevilla FC (16th) then the championship will resume on January 2, 3 and 4. Girona will host Atlético Madrid and Real will host Mallorca (14th).