DBasia.news – Real Madrid surprisingly lost 1-2 to Alaves at home on Sunday (29/11) WIB. Because of this, the defending champion had to settle for sitting in fourth place in the LaLiga standings with 17 points from 10 matches.
Madrid are six points behind leaders Real Sociedad and second-placed Atletico Madrid. Regarding the defeat of his team, Madrid midfielder Casemiro gave reasons.
“Our pre-season games are not good and we barely have time to work because there are so many matches. But we have to keep fighting because there is still a long way to go,” Casemiro said on Madrid’s official website.
Madrid was motivated by a 2-0 away win over Inter Milan in the Champions League, midweek. However, they have lost six players, including captain Sergio Ramos and striker Karim Benzema.
The coach Zinedine Zidane decided to rotate the main left-back Ferland Mendy and give veteran Marcelo another chance. A decision that makes many parties frown, given the difficulties Marcelo experienced when Madrid lost 1-4 to Valencia three weeks ago.
As a result, Madrid lost again. This is the tenth loss in LaLiga since Zidane returned to the club in March 2019.
“Alaves made a much better start than us. If you don’t score, you will pay it because it is the toughest league in the world and every opponent has quality,” Casemiro said.
Lucas Perez put Alaves ahead after five minutes on the spot after a Nacho handball and the penalty was the fifth Madrid have experienced in three league games.
Hazard wasted a chance to equalize when he fired a direct shot at Alaves keeper Fernando Pacheco. He then filed a penalty protest before collapsing with a muscle injury in the 28th minute.
Former Madrid youth Joselu took advantage of Courtois ‘gift to double Alaves’ lead early in the second half, unexpectedly receiving a pass from the Belgian outside the penalty area and tucking it into an empty net.
Casemiro pulled a goal back from close range for Madrid in the 86th minute while Isco almost equalized in the sixth minute of added time. Unfortunately the shot hit the bar.
“This is a very different season from most seasons, all the big teams are dropping points but we have to keep working and try to do better. At least we keep trying until the end,” said Casemiro.