MADRID: Lucas Vazquez scored with a header in stoppage-time to put Real Madrid back at the top in the Spanish league on Thursday.
After Girona conceded a late equalizer in their 1-1 draw at Real Betis, Madrid pulled off a 1-0 win on the road against Alaves to reclaim first place after 18 rounds.
Madrid and Girona are tied on 45 points but Madrid were ahead on a tiebreaker. Defending champion Barcelona was third, seven points off the lead. The Catalan club edged last-place Almeria 3-2 at home on Wednesday.
Madrid got the late win despite playing with 10 men from the 54th minute after central defender Nacho Fernandez was sent off with a straight red card for a hard foul.
Vazquez were left free inside the area to score the winner with a header after a well-placed corner-kick cross by Toni Kroos.
Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo, the leaders of Madrid’s attack this season, were kept in check during most of the match in a lackluster performance by Carlo Ancelotti’s team at Mendizorroza Stadium. Neither team was able to create many significant scoring chances.
After Nacho was sent off, Ancelotti was forced to replace Luka Modric with midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, who went into Nacho’s position in the middle of the defense.
Madrid has been playing with a squad depleted by injuries, especially in defense. Last Sunday, David Alaba became the third Madrid player to tear an anterior cruciate knee ligament. Éder Militão and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois also sustained the same type of injury.
Antonio Rudiger started alongside Nacho in defense on Thursday.
Forward Rodrygo had to be helped off the field with another injury in stoppage time.
Madrid have conceded only 11 goals so far this season, the best mark among all Spanish league clubs.
It was the third loss in a row for Alaves, who are sitting in 16th place, three points clear from the relegation zone.
Madrid’s next league game is at home against Mallorca on Jan. 3. Alaves visits Real Sociedad on Jan. 2.
GIRONA’S SETBACK
Girona opened the scoring with a penalty kick converted by Artem Dovbyk in the 39th, but the hosts equalized with German Pezzella in the 88th after a loose ball inside the area.
It was only the second time Girona failed to win in their last 12 matches in all competitions. They had won eight of its last nine league matches, including 4-2 at Barcelona two rounds ago. A 3-0 loss to Madrid at home in September is the team’s lone defeat so far this season.
They faced another tough test against a Betis team fighting for European places and yet to lose at home in the league.
“This goal in the end is very upsetting, we thought we had it won,” Girona captain Aleix Garcia said. “But we have to value this point, they pressure a lot here. We have to maintain this dynamic and recharge our batteries for what’s ahead.”
Girona’s next league match is another difficult one, against fourth-place Atletico Madrid at home on Jan. 3.
SOCIEDAD HELD
Sixth-place Sociedad couldn’t manage more than a 0-0 draw at relegation-threatened Cadiz.
The hosts sit in 17th place, just outside the demotion zone, and haven’t won in 16 consecutive matches in all competitions.
Sociedad are now winless in three straight games.
Mallorca came from behind to defeat Osasuna 3-1 at home.
It was the second win in the last three league matches for Mallorca, who moved to 14th place.
Osasuna, sitting in 13th place, has won only one of its last eight league games — 1-0 against Rayo Vallecano in the previous round.
