Real Madrid’s struggles in the Spanish league continued in a 2-1 home loss to Alavés on Saturday.
Lucas Pérez scored in the first half and Joselu in the second after a blunder by goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois as mid-table Alavés handed Madrid its third straight setback in the league, leaving it in fourth place, six points off the lead.
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Real Madrid’s struggles in the Spanish league continued in a 2-1 home loss to Alavés on Saturday.
Atlético Madrid earlier defeated Valencia 1-0 to tie Real Sociedad on points at the top of the standings.
Alavés had drawn three straight games, including 1-1 with Barcelona at home while playing with 10 men.
Madrid's best chance to equalize came when Francisco “Isco” Alarcón's hit the crossbar in the sixth minute of stoppage time.
ATLÉTICO'S STREAK
The goal came after the ball hit Lato’s leg following a low cross by Atlético midfielder Yannick Carrasco from the left flank. The ball ricocheted backward and struck the post before going in.
Diego Simeone's team has a decisive match against Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Casemiro scored Madrid's lone goal in the 86th.
Real Madrid's Mariano Diaz, top, -heads for the ball with Alaves' Rodrigo Battaglia during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Alaves at Alfredo di Stefano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
Atlético Madrid earlier defeated Valencia 1-0 to tie Real Sociedad on points at the top of the standings.
Madrid also lost Eden Hazard because of an apparent injury in the first half, the latest injury woe for the Belgium forward who was making only his fifth start this season.
The Spanish club defeated Inter Milan in the Champions League midweek but was coming off two consecutive setbacks in the league — a 4-1 loss at Valencia and a 1-1 draw at Villarreal.
Real Madrid's Lucas Vazquez, left, is fouled by Alaves' Luis Rioja during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Alaves at Alfredo di Stefano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
Alavés had drawn three straight games, including 1-1 with Barcelona at home while playing with 10 men.
Pérez opened the scoring five minutes into the match from the penalty spot after a handball inside the area by Madrid defender Nacho Fernández. Courtois gave away the second goal in the 49th after his pass from the back to Casemiro came out too weak and was intercepted by Joselu, who sent a low shot into the open net from outside the area.
Casemiro pulled Madrid closer late from close range but Alavés held on.
Real Madrid's head coach Zinedine Zidane applauds to his players during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Alaves at Alfredo di Stefano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
Madrid's best chance to equalize came when Francisco “Isco” Alarcón's hit the crossbar in the sixth minute of stoppage time.
Alavés kept threatening on counterattacks at the empty Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium.
A Diego Maradona jersey was put alongside the Real Madrid reserve players, and a moment of silence was observed before the match as a tribute to the Argentina great who died this week.
Alaves' Lucas Perez, left, celebrates after scoring a penalty kick with his teammates during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Alaves at Alfredo di Stefano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
ATLÉTICO'S STREAK
Atlético Madrid defeated Valencia with a late own-goal to extend its winning streak to six matches in the Spanish league.
The own-goal by Valencia defender Toni Lato in the 79th minute left Atlético tied on points with Sociedad with a game in hand. Sociedad hosts third-placed Villarreal on Sunday.
Real Madrid's goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois fails to stop a penalty kick scored by Alaves' Lucas Perez during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Alaves at Alfredo di Stefano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
The goal came after the ball hit Lato’s leg following a low cross by Atlético midfielder Yannick Carrasco from the left flank. The ball ricocheted backward and struck the post before going in.
“Luck also plays a role sometimes,” said Carrasco, who came into the match in the second half. “It's always hard to play here, so we are happy to have won the match.”
Atlético is yet to trail in the league and remains the only unbeaten team. It hasn't lost in the league in 25 matches, going back to last season.
Real Madrid's goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois fails to stop a penalty kick scored by Alaves' Lucas Perez during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Alaves at Alfredo di Stefano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
Diego Simeone's team has a decisive match against Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Simeone was moved by a pre-match tribute to former Argentina teammate Diego Maradona at Mestalla Stadium.
“I believed it was important to say one final goodbye by applauding him,” Simeone said.
Real Madrid and Alaves players observe a minute of silence in memory of soccer legend Diego Armando Maradona before the start of the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Alaves at Alfredo di Stefano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
Valencia dropped to 11th place after failing to beat Atlético for a 12th straight time in the league since 2014.
OTHER RESULTS
Sevilla beat Huesca 1-0 for its fifth victory in a row in all competitions, with Youssef En-Nesyri scoring late. Huesca remains the only winless team in the Spanish league.
Elche and Cádiz drew 1-1 in a match between promoted clubs. Elche opened the scoring through Lucas Boyé in the first half and the visitors equalized through Álvaro Giménez Candela in the second half. Elche played a man down after Boyé was sent off for a second yellow card in first-half stoppage time.
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