Yellow card for Nacho after a poorly timed challenge on Torres.
86'
D. Torres gets yellow.
Yellow card for Alaves' Daniel Torres after a late tackle.
Isco latches onto a rebound in the box, but his shot is blocked by the Alaves defence and they clear from the resultant scramble.
85'
Real have wasted some good opportunities to kill off this game as Pacheco dives to tip Ronaldo's 18-yard shot around the post and Alaves could still steal a point. The watching De Biasi will be encouraged with what he has seen from his players today.
83'
Vazquez's dangerous cross into the box is cleared by Alaves for a corner. From the delivery, the ball eventually comes to Vazquez who tries to place his shot into the bottom corner, but Pacheco makes the save.
81'
Rubén Sobrino enters the game and replaces Ibai Gómez.
An attacking substitution for Alaves as forward and former Real Madrid youngster Ruben Sobrino comes on for Ibai.
79'
Pedraza has made a big impact for Alaves since coming on and could feel unlucky for not being involved in the action earlier.
77'
ALAVES HIT THE POST AGAIN!! Pedraza strikes the post for the second time in five minutes after Real are guilty once again of poor concentration. The ball trickled through to Pedraza at the edge of the box and his prodded effort came off the inside of the post after he was bundled over by the advancing Navas.
74'
RAMOS MISSES A GLORIOUS CHANCE!! A total lack of composure sees the Real captain blaze over from six yards at point blank range. Isco showed sublime skill down the right wing and cut back for Ramos after Pacheco palmed away the cross. Ramos had time to take a touch but snapped at his effort and shot over the bar.
72'
Marcos Llorente enters the game and replaces Dani Ceballos.
Ceballos comes off after scoring a brace for former Alaves player Marcos Llorente.
Minute
Description
70'
ALAVES HIT THE POST! Alaves come so close to an equaliser. Pedraza collects a pass before smashing a shot towards goal which comes off the upright.
68'
Isco does not have his shooting boots on today and laces his effort from outside the box in a central position over the bar.
67'
Manu García gets yellow.
Alaves captain Garcia should be sent off. He glanced at Lucas Vazquez and elbowed him straight in the face. He's very lucky only to be booked.
66'
Alfonso Pedraza enters the game and replaces Burgui.
Substitution for Alaves as Alfonso Pedraza replaces Burgui on the left wing.
64'
GOAL DISALLOWED!! Ramos has the ball in the net but the referee blows for a foul by Ronaldo in the build-up.
62'
Ronaldo hits the post!! Ronaldo is cruelly denied by the upright with a magnificent curled effort with his left foot after cutting inside at the edge of the box. Pacheco is rooted to his spot and watched the ball cannon off the post. He was so close to a first La Liga goal this season.
61'
Álvaro Medrán gets yellow.
Yellow card for Medran after a late tackle on Ceballos near the halfway line. Real are frustrated that advantage wasn't played and the referee has not let the game flow all afternoon.
59'
Ramos plays a cross-field pass for Carvajal to chase but the right-back cannot reach it and the ball goes out of play.
57'
A good spell of Alaves possession after those two Real chances. The Basque side are not playing like a side who have failed to pick up no points this season.
55'
Real are increasing the pressure now. Isco bursts into the box and latches onto a long pass before unleashing a low shot towards the bottom corner, but Pacheco makes a smart stop. Ronaldo is frustrated with his team-mate as he was free in front of an empty net.
53'
Ronaldo lines a shot up from the edge of the box on his left foot, but drags his attempt wide and the striker is perhaps a bit short of match sharpness after his layoff.
51'
Isco lobs a ball over to the far post but it evades everyone and goes out for a goal-kick.
50'
Alaves are putting in a spirited performance and Varane does well to cut Ibai's cross out for a corner. Keylor Navas punches the corner clear.
47'
Chance for Real! Ronaldo should score his first league goal of the season after returning from his five-game suspension. He controlled a cross from the right wing but his close-range strike clipped the near post. The Portuguese will be disappointed to miss the target.
46'
Alexis enters the game and replaces Carlos Vigaray.
Alaves make the game's first substitution with Alexis replacing Carlos Vigaray at right-back.
45'
Rodrigo Ely gets yellow.
Yellow card for Ely after a late and heavy tackle on Ronaldo near the halfway line.
There will be one minute of additional time at the end of the first half.
We're underway once again with Alaves shooting from right to left.
43'
Dani Ceballos has scored a goal for Real Madrid!
GOAL FOR MADRID!! Alaves are on level terms for less than three minutes as Ceballos scores his second goal of the afternoon. Ronaldo broke down the right wing and Pacheco makes a poor punch from the cross that falls to Ceballos on the edge of the box. He fires a curling effort towards goal which flies into the bottom corner.
40'
Manu García has scored a goal for Alaves! Assist by M. El Haddadi.
Assist Munir El Haddadi Mohamed
GOAL FOR ALAVES!! Manu Garcia scores Alaves' first goal of the season with a bullet of a header after a sweeping counter-attack. El Haddadi was played onside down the right wing by Ramos and delivered an excellent cross into the box. Garcia timed his run perfectly and directed his header into the top left-hand corner from 10 yards.
37'
Real have looked far more impressive away from the Bernabeu this season and that trend looks set to continue this afternoon. Los Blancos are devestating when teams come out and attack them, leaving space in behind for their star-studded forward line.
35'
Isco, making his 200th appearance for Real today, is dictating the play in midfield and Alaves are chasing shadows at the moment before Ceballos concedes a free-kick on the left wing and Alaves get some respite.
34'
Another Real corner is cleared out at the edge of the box. Ceballos tries to curl a strike into the bottom corner but Pacheco holds the shot.
32'
Dani Carvajal gets yellow.
Yellow card for Real's Daniel Carvajal after a late tackle. Ibai takes the resultant free-kick from 30 yards but Navas makes an easy save.
31'
Another Real corner which Isco takes and the ball reaches Raphael Varane who leaps highest in the box, but he couldn't get enough power on his header and which gives Pacheco time to make the save.
27'
Ceballos wins Real a corner which Asensio delivers to the near post but Ronaldo shoots just over the bar.
25'
Chance for Real! Lucas should double Real's lead but he fires over the bar from close range at the near post after Asensio played him in.
23'
That was very smart play by Ronaldo who knew Alaves were expecting a strike on goal but his lobbed delivery was spot on and Ramos should have done better with his free header from 10 yards out.
22'
Real win a free-kick 30 yards from goal after a foul Lucas Vazquez is cynically tripped up by Ruben Duarte. Ronaldo steps up with his signature long run up but dinks a cross into the box that Sergio Ramos heads straight at Fernando Pacheco in net.
20'
Alaves seem content to foul in an attmept to prevent Real building up any momentum in attack which is making the contest a bit scrappy.
18'
Alaves make a good response to conceding. They break down the right wing and win a free-kick but the delivery from Ibai Gomez is poor and Real clear easily.
14'
Carlos Vigaray gets yellow.
Yellow card for Carlos Vigaray after the right-back tripped Nacho who made a strong run from left-back and wins a free-kick from the edge of the box. Cristiano Ronaldo shoots from a tight angle that does not threaten the Alaves goal.
12'
The champions showed their quality with that goal. Real had started poorly but can hurt teams in a flash and on the replay it was a very smart finish from Ceballos shooting through a crowd.
10'
Dani Ceballos has scored a goal for Real Madrid! Assist by Marco Asensio.
GOAL!! After a rocky start, Real take the lead through Daniel Ceballos after a brilliant cut back on the edge of the box from Marco Asensio. Real worked the ball upfield and Ceballos used his strength to muscle Ely off the ball before sidefooting his 20-yard effort into the bottom left-hand corner.
Assist Marco Asensio Willemsen
6'
Alaves have started well. Keylor Navas punches away a corner from Nacho, and then Alaves claim penalty but the referee awards a free out for a trip on Casemiro.
4'
Offside! Munir El Haddadi is played through in an early chance for Alaves but drags his shot wide from 12 yards in an offside position.
2'
An early possession for Real who stroke the ball around midfield before the ball goes out of play. Alaves will look to sit back with two banks of four and hit Real on the counter.
1'
We're underway at the Mendizorrotza.
De Biasi is watching on from the stands with Cabello taking his final game as caretaker boss.
Good afternoon and welcome to our live text commentary of today’s LaLiga game between Alaves and Real Madrid at the Mendizorrotza Stadium.
Real Madrid come into this game following a shock 1-0 home defeat to Real Betis in midweek. Real are already seven points behind league leaders Barcelona after dropping points at the Bernabeu against Valencia and Levante following an opening day win away over Deportivo La Coruna. Zinedine Zidane's side also recorded an away victory over Real Sociedad after beginning the defence of their Champions League crown with 3-0 home win against Apoel Nicosia.
Alaves come into this match having lost all five of their La Liga fixtures so far this season and parted company with coach Luis Zubeldia on Sunday after four straight defeats without a goal. Another defeat followed away to fellow strugglers Deportivo La Coruna on Wednesday night under caretaker boss Javier Cabello. The Basque club confirmed the hiring of Italian Gianni De Biasi last night who will take permanent charge from Monday. Alaves impressed last season, finishing ninth in the league and reached the final of the Copa del Rey before coach Mauricio Pellegrino left for Southampton.
The whistle goes for half-time and Zidane will be pleased that Real regained the lead following Garcia's stunning headed equaliser. Alaves started the game well and have looked dangerous on the counter-attack but Real's abundance in quality has come through with Ceballos scoring a brace after being drafted into the starting line-up. The champions look a constant threat and another goal could put the game beyond the home side. It promises to be an intriquing second half as Alaves are still very much in the contest.
There’s just over 15 minutes left to go until kick-off, so let’s have a look at how the two teams will be lining up this afternoon…
The two sides are making their way out onto the pitch, with just a few minutes to go until kick-off.
Real won both league encounters against Alaves last season, winning 4-1 at the Mendizorrotza and 3-0 at the Bernabeu in April.
REAL MADRID (4-3-3): Navas, Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Nacho, Ceballos, Casemiro, Isco, Lucas, Ronaldo, Asensio
Real substitutes: Modric, Bale, Casilla, Llorente, Hakimi, Mayoral, Tejero.
Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane makes four changes from the Real Betis defeat with the French coach keeping one eye on Tuesday night's trip to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League. Toni Kroos (rib) and Marcelo (thigh) miss out through injury while Gareth Bale and Luka Modric drop to the bench. Nacho, Daniel Ceballos, Marco Asensio and Lucas all come in.
Alaves are unchanged from the Deportivo defeat with Zidane's son, Enzo, not in the matchday squad. Former Stoke City striker Bojan Krkic is out after picking up a thigh injury against Villarreal last weekend.
The two sides are making their way out onto the pitch, with just a few minutes to go until kick-off.
There will three minutes of added time.
Real are pushing for a late goal as Alaves look out on their feet after putting in a huge effort. Asensio misses a chance but his shot goes just wide of the post from the edge of the box.
FULL-TIME: ALAVES 1 - 2 REAL MADRID
The final whistle goes and Real Madrid leave the Mendizorrotza Stadium with all three points thanks to a brace from Daniel Ceballos. Zinedine Zidane's side were made to work hard for the win and Alaves were desperately unlucky not to equalise late on after Alfonso Pedraza struck the post twice. But this victory proved why Real are the current LaLiga and Champions League holders as they grinded out the victory while not being at their best. Real next face Dortmund in the Champions League while Gianni De Biasi will be hopeful of steering Alaves clear of the relegation zone if they can repeat this level of performance.
Commentary
More…