Karim Benzema started the new season from exactly where he left off, scoring a brace as Real Madrid triumphed over Deportivo Alaves in the opening game.
Madrid kicked off their 2021/22 Spanish league campaign with an emphatic 4-1 win over Alaves on Saturday as they look to fight for the league title once again.
Under the tutelage of Carlo Ancelotti, the side who finished second in the previous campaign started the game with a dented momentum as Alaves created almost all the chances in the opening stages of the game.
Madrid looked shaky from the blast of the first whistle, giving away too many cheap balls and committing unnecessary fouls, which at some point were ‘overlooked’ by the referee in charge.
With no goal separating in the first 45 minutes of the game, the second period of the game was an opportunity for both teams to attack each other, and it was Ancelotti’s side who got things started.
Benzema netted his first goal of the campaign three minutes into the second half to give Madrid the lead, blasting the past Fernando Pacheco after Eden Hazard’s beautiful flick.
The lead was doubled moments later with Nacho Fernandez beating an Alaves defender to a lofted cross from Luka Modric.
A moment of complacency from the central defender, Eder Militao saw the home side awarded a penalty, which Joselu neatly converted to pull one goal back for Alaves but Madrid were far from done.
A solo run by Federico Valverde down the right side of the attack saw Madrid record their third goal as Benzema scored his second of the day and his side’s third with a clever finish.
Vinicius Junior came from the bench later in the game to also extend Madrid’s lead over the Basque as they ended as 4-1 winners.
The win is a huge boost for Madrid as it gives them a strong start to the new campaign.
