Real Madrid fight back to win 'complicated match' against promoted Almeria

After falling behind to an early goal, Real strike back through Vazquez and Alaba

David Alaba of Real Madrid celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the La Liga match against Almeria at Juegos Mediterraneos on August 14, 2022 in Almeria, Spain. Real won the match 2-1. Getty Images

Real Madrid's David Alaba celebrates scoring their second goal with Karim Benzema. Reuters

Real Madrid's David Alaba, right, scores against Almeria. EPA

Real Madrid's Luka Modric, left, controls the ball. AP Photo

Real Madrid's Croatian midfielder Luka Modric falls down following a challenge by an Almeria player. AFP

Real Madrid's Eden Hazard, right is challenged by Almeria's Arnau Puigmal. AP Photo

Real Madrid's Lucas Vazquez celebrates scoring their first goal against Almeria. Reuters

Real Madrid's Lucas Vazquez celebrates after scoring. AP Photo

Real Madrid's Lucas Vazquez celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Almeria and Real Madrid at the Power Horse stadium in Almeria, Spain, Sunday, Aug. 14, 2022. (AP Photo / Jose Breton)

Real Madrid's Eduardo Camavinga, left, challenges for the ball with Almeria's Largie Ramazani. AP Photo

Almeria striker Largie Ramazani scores to make it 1-0. EPA

Real Madrid's Ferland Mendy, left, challenges for the ball with Almeria's Largie Ramazan. AP Photo

Real Madrid recovered from conceding an early goal to beat promoted Almeria 2-1 to get the defence of their La Liga title up and running on Sunday.

Carlo Ancelotti made five changes to the team that beat Eintracht Frankfurt in Wednesday's Uefa Super Cup final, with debuts for new signings Antonio Rudiger and Aurelien Tchouameni.

Almeria were in no mood to bow down to the Spanish and European champions though and took a sixth-minute lead through striker Largie Ramazani.

Vinicius Jr was involved in his own personal fuel with Fernando Martinez with the Almeria goalkeeper making three crucial stops from close range to deny Real's Brazilian forward.

Last season's La Liga top goalscorer Karim Benzema had a disappointing showing as Almeria's five-man defence did a superb job in shackling him, showing real grit as they tried to defend their lead.

Real piled on the pressure after the break when Ancelotti summoned veteran midfielder Luka Modric and winger Eden Hazard from the bench in place of young French midfielders Eduardo Camavinga and Tchouameni, who struggled to make an impact.

Lucas Vazquez scored the equaliser from a rebound after another individual effort from Vinicius in the 61st minute and substitute David Alaba scored the winner from a free kick into the upper left corner in the 75th minute.

"It was a complicated match, they explored very well the spaces that we left on the back of the defence," Ancelotti told Movistar Plus.

"Tchouameni and Camavinga didn’t show their true quality and potential but sometimes the Real Madrid shirt is a heavy burden for the young players.

"I have full confidence that they will progress because they are high level players."