Real Madrid rallied back from two goals down to defeat Almeria 3-2, with Dani Carvajal netting the winning in the dying stages.
LaLiga
Result: Real Madrid 3-2 Almeria
Date: 21 January 2024
Venue: Santiago Bernabeu
Los Blancos made three changes from the defeat against Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey, as goalkeeper Kepa, Aurelien Tchouameni and Toni Kroos were recalled.
Almeria had a dream start as Largie Ramazani gave them the lead within the first minute after he connected well with a pass in the box.
Carlo Ancelotti's charges tried to settle in the game as they were patient on the ball but they were not finding momentum in their attacks.
Madrid, however, were finding their rhythm towards the end of the first stanza but Edgar Gonzalez doubled the lead for the visitors on the stroke of half-time with a long range strike from a rebound.
Ancelotti made drastic changes at half-time, as he withdrew Rodrygo and brought on Joselu and Brahim Diaz replaced Nacho Fernandez in a tactical switch to reinforce the attack.
The changes paid off for Madrid, as they were awarded a penalty ten minutes into the second stanza for a foul on Jude Bellingham after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review. Bellingham went up himself and fired his shot down the middle as he pulled a goal back for Los Blancos.
As the game opened up, Almeria thought they had restored their two-goal cushion after Sergio Arribas found the back of the net from a through ball but the goal was disallowed for a foul in the build-up after VAR review.
Los Blancos had a sigh of relief and Vinicius Junior eventually levelled matters with 22 minutes remaining after he connected with a cross from Aurelien Tchouameni in the box, although the goal had to be awarded by the VAR after it was initially disallowed.
Madrid found spaces going forward and Bellingham thought he had found the winner in the last 13 minutes with a stunning curler towards the top corner but the goal was chalked off for a marginal offside.
Los Blancos remained on the attack as three minutes later Vinicius Junior was denied the winner by goalkeeper Luis Maximiano, who made a point-blank save from a scramble in the box.
Madrid capitalized on an 11-minute stoppage time, as Dani Carvajal found the winner at the death with a close-range finish at the back post after a header by Bellingham.
Los Blancos extended their lead at the top of the table by two points, although they could be leapfrogged by second-placed Girona who host Sevilla later in the evening.
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