Real Madrid Move Five Points Clear of Barcelona, Defeat Deportivo Alavés 3-0
By Ben Sundock
Second Half
Well, the second half was far less impressive from Real Madrid than the first.
Danilo and Luka Modric struggled to make good passes through the midfield, turning the ball over several times in the opening minutes of the half, giving way to two decent chances from Alavés.
Both Deyverson and Manu Garcia had good chances to level the game, but a flubbed header on a good opportunity just after the 50th minute.
At the hour mark, it was again Manu Garcia who put a great cross into Edgar, who settled the ball and just barely missed the far post as the sprawling Casilla wouldn’t have reached the ball.
Luka Modric was subbed out in the 68th minute, after a very un-Luka like day, where the usually spot on midfielder made several mistakes and turnovers, and looked slow in the second half.
He was replaced by Mateo Kovacic who came on and put in 20 minutes of good work, making several good runs deep into the heart of the Alavés defense.
Ronaldo shanked a great chance in front of goal in the 76th minute, putting the left footed shot no where near the goal, not challenging the keeper.
It was Isco who finally broke the near hour goal drought with a stunning finishing just glancing the underside of the bar to beat Pacheco and seal the 3 points for Real.
The beautiful through ball from Ronaldo set Isco up and despite the defense riding his back, Isco was able to put home the brace.
So, is it safe to say now that Ronaldo is not a selfish player after yet another great assist and no goal in this game? I would say so.
It was Gareth Bale, the Welsh Dragon, who set up the third goal as well, banging a freekick right off the crossbar, and straight to the head of the waiting Nacho Fernandez who easily put the ball in the net past the sprawling Alavés keeper, capping the game 3-0 in favor of the Royal Whites.
The near beaut from Bale, turned into a garbage goal for Nacho, but, it counted all the same.
Three points and now 5 points clear, Real Madrid started the month of April off right with a decisive victory over a scrappy team.
Next up, Real will travel to Leganes on Wednesday, as the grueling month of April is just beginning, and Zidane knows it saying in his post game press conference:
Zidane: "Now every three days we play a final, the players know it perfectly".
— Real Madrid Info ³⁵ (@RMadridInfo) April 2, 2017