Alaves 1-2 Real Madrid: Dani Ceballos helps Zinedine Zidane's side avoid another slip up

Real Madrid beat La Liga lightweights Alaves but only just, as Zinedine Zidane’s team took a tentative step away from their crisis.

After failing to win any of their first three home games – for only the third time in their history – Madrid had fallen seven points behind Barcelona but they beat Alaves thanks to a Dani Ceballos double.

They were facing a team that is still yet to pick up a point this season and took the lead on 10 minutes through a Ceballos shot from the edge of the area.  

Cristiano Ronaldo salutes the crowd after helping Real Madrid to a much-needed victory

Manu Garcia pulled a goal back with a bullet header on 40 minutes but Alaves’ joy at scoring their first goal this season did not last long.

On 43 minutes keeper Fernando Pacheco pushed a high cross straight out to Ceballos and he delivered once more with another rasping drive through the crowded penalty area.

Coach Zidane was still without the injured Karim Benzema and Toni Kroos and also left Gareth Bale on the bench resting the Welshman ahead of the midweek trip to Dortmund in the Champions League.  

Cristiano Ronaldo barks his orders out but failed to find the back of the net once again

Real Madrid stayed on top in the second half and Cristiano Ronaldo hit the post on the hour with a shot from distance.

Sergio Ramos then thought he had made it three but his header was ruled out when the referee blew for an earlier infringement. The champions could count themselves unlucky because in the build-up if any one had been fouled it had been Nacho.

There was more good fortune for Alaves moments later when Manu Garcia elbowed Lucas Vazquez and escaped without punishment. The Alaves captain apologized to the Madrid winger moments later.

Alaves were cup finalists last season under now Southampton boss Mauricio Pellegrino. They have fallen apart since his departure but almost levelled when Alfonso Pedraza hit the frame of the goal. And the same player went agonizingly close with 15 minutes left when he got away from Raphael Varane, drew the keeper Keylor Navas, but hit the post with his shot.

There was an end to end finish with a Cristiano Ronaldo shot pushed wide by Pacheco as Madrid tied but failed to force a third goal. They will be happy to get back to winning ways but against Spain’s bottom club it was not a performance that really convinced.