Real Madrid made hard work of their 3-2 victory over Alaves on Tuesday evening.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side roared to a comfortable 3-0 lead and looked set to play out the simplest of victories, only for two late Alaves goals to leave them sweating as they battled through to victory.

Madrid were ahead in just a matter of seconds. Vinicius Junior beat his man and drove into the penalty area before cutting the ball back into the path of the onrushing Vazquez, who steered home into the bottom corner.

Mbappe thought he had doubled Madrid’s advantage after finishing off a glorious team move, but the Frenchman was clearly offside and the goal was chalked off.

On the stroke of half-time, Mbappe did get his goal. A smart one-two with Jude Bellingham put him through on goal and the summer signing beat one defender before drilling the ball into the back of the net.

Straight after the restart, Rodrygo added a third. The Brazilian picked the ball up deep and charged at his defender, and just as it looked as if he had narrowed the angle too much, Rodrygo fizzed a delightful strike across goal and beyond Antonio Sivera.

Substitute Endrick struck the post with a deflected effort just two minutes after coming on, while Alaves struck the woodwork themselves soon after. Abde Rebbach’s effort rattled the post and into the hands of the grateful Thibaut Courtois.

It looked like the game would peter out but, with five minutes to go, Alaves came to life. Carlos Protesoni pulled one back with a glorious strike from range and, just two minutes later, Kike Garcia fired beyond Courtois after getting in behind.

Tomas Conechny even had the chance to equalise in stoppage time, but the winger could only watch as his header deflected wide of Courtois’ goal as a shell-shocked Madrid were forced to cling on to three points which seemed so comfortable just ten minutes earlier.

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