Alaba saves Real Madrid after an uprising in Almeria

 Substitute David Alaba scored a free kick from the first touch after coming down to lead Real Madrid to come from behind to win 2-1 at its rising host Almeria at the start of the campaign to defend the Spanish first division title. The start was embarrassing for the European champion when the hosts advanced through the Belgian Largy Ramzani after escaping from supervision in the sixth minute.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti's team struggled until Lucas Vazquez equalized after an hour, before Austrian Alaba clinched the victory with a neat free kick with a quarter of an hour remaining to give Real the first three points of the new season. Ancelotti made five changes to the recent European Super Cup and Champions League winning squad, starting with newcomers Antonio Rudiger and Aurelien Chuamini.

But the Italian coach's bet backfired when Ramzani opened the scoring for Almeria after he slipped behind Rudiger to single out goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and hit a low shot into the net. Real intensified the pressure after the break when they pushed veterans Luka Modric, Eden Hazard and Alaba off the bench.

Vazquez equalized from a follow-up to a ball from Karim Benzema in the 61st minute, before Alaba grabbed the victory to avoid Real's fate, Barcelona, ​​who opened the season with a goalless draw with Rayo Vallecano on Saturday.