What a game of football! Real Madrid earn a hard-fought 3 points that takes the gap to Barcelona down to four, who play later tonight. It was the Dani Ceballos show, as he opened the scoring with a well-taken strike, only for Manu Garcia to deservedly draw Alaves level in the 40th minute. However, Ceballos scored minutes later to restore Madrid's lead after a gift from Pacheco. Alaves managed to hit the post twice in the second half, as they caused Madrid plenty of problems. Zinedine Zidane's side held out for a crucial win though, and will be glad to walk away with three points.
That's it from me, Sunaadh Sagar, tonight. Stay tuned for our coverage of Barcelona's game tonight - do get in touch if you have any feedback - I'm @sunaadh on Twitter.
90+2' Medran sends in a free kick from the right wing, but Madrid manage to clear. The all-whites counter attack with Ronaldo releasing Asensio, but he takes too long and runs the ball out of play.
87' PANIC STATIONS! Lucas causes chaos with a driving run to the left byline, cutting the ball back for Isco who is inches away from getting to the ball. The ball ricochets out with Ronaldo getting ready to pounce, but Ely and Maripan run out to get their blocks in!
84' SHOT! After a couple of panicked clearances, Lucas attempts to curl a low shot past two defenders into the near post, but Pacheco redeems himself by getting down quickly to make a good save at full stretch.
83' PACHECO!! Isco sends in a low cross from the left wing this time and Pacheco makes a mess yet again, but thankfully there's no Madrid shirt to pounce, and Alaves clear for a corner.
81' Madrid product Ruben Sobrino comes on to replace Ibai Gomez for Alaves. Cabello clearly believes the hosts can get something from this, with an attacking change.
78' A couple of players are down with both Ramos and Manu down in Madrid's box. Replays show it was accidental as both players clash into each other head first with all eyes on the cross.
76' UNBELIEVABLE! OFF THE POST! Real Madrid nearly concede again! Varane's clearance is charged down by Pedraza and he runs clear, poking the ball past Navas, but watches in agony as the ball trickles off the inside off the post and comes out to be cleared by Madrid!
74' WHAT A MISS! Isco sends in a low cross from the right wing that looks easy enough, but Pacheco makes a mess of it with Maripan getting in his way, and the ball falls to Ramos with the goal at his mercy, but he blazes his effort well over the bar!
73' Duarte concedes a corner as Lucas tumbles on the byline and is lucky to win the set-piece. The fullback is livid and has words with the linesman. Meanwhile, Ely clears the corner with the minimum of fuss.
70' OFF THE CROSSBAR! Pedraza finds space on the right edge of the box and hammers a shot on goal, and a deflection looks to have caught out Navas, but he breathes a sigh of relief as the ball loops onto the corner of the goalframe!
69' Real Madrid have knocked the ball about in midfield. hoping to calm things down and see out this game. Meanwhile, Manu Garcia has apologized to Lucas Vazquez, in a nice show of sportsmanship.
67' Manu Garcia goes into the book for a nasty elbow on Lucas Vazquez, who is absolutely livid and is being calmed down by Varane. Replays show that was deliberate, and Manu Garcia can consider himself lucky.
65' GOAAA....NOOO! Ramos wheels away in celebration after heading the ball into the net, but the ref had already blown for Ronaldo fouling Many Garcia in the box. The Portuguese superstar has been getting booed for the better part of the last few minutes, which has only served to make him play better!
63' WHAT A SHOT! With Ronaldo having no legitimate right to get an effort on goal, he hammers a stunning left-footed effort to the far post after making a mug of his defender, but watches in agony as his effort clatters of the upright!
62' Carvajal sends in an awful cross from the right wing as Madrid counter-attacked, but Ely and Alexis get in each other's way to concede a needless corner. Thankfully for the home side, nothing comes of the set piece.
59' Good football from Alaves, as Duarte, Medran and Burgui exchange some great passes to get around Madrid's midfield, with the move ending with Alexis sending a cross from the right straight into Navas' grateful hands. Applause rings out at the Mendizorrotza.
57' Deportivo Alaves have responded to the spell of Madrid pressure by calmly passing it amongst themselves at the back and in midfield to take the sting out of their opponent's attacks. They're still very much in this game.
54' WHAT A CHANCE! Varane chips a gorgeous ball to Isco who had beaten the Alaves offside trap, and with Ronaldo absolutely free for a tap in next to him, opts to shoot right at Pacheco! Poor play from the Spanish midfielder!
53' He's getting closer! Ronaldo hammers a low drive with his left boot from a central position about 30 yards out, but his effort flashes inches wide.
52' Ooooh! Munir looks to have collected a long pass in the box for a 1-on-1 with Navas but gets clattered into from behind by Varane in a nasty challenge. Luckily for the Frenchman, the flag was up for offside way before, or that would surely have been a penalty.
50' Great defending from Varane, as he intercepts a through ball from Ibai that would have sent Munir clear. A corner results, with Ibai forcing Navas to come through a crowd of players and clear the ball.
49' Nacho charges up the pitch, exchanging a 1-2 with Asensio on the edge of the box, but the Madrid youngster overcooks his return pass to Nacho, with Pacheco collecting.
47' CHANCE! Real Madrid set off on the counter-attack from Alaves' corner, with Asensio sending in a clever cross to Ronaldo on the left edge of the box. The Portuguese star cuts inside, but hits the outside of the near post with a low drive.
46' Instant impact from Alexis, as a clever 1-2 on the right wing ends with him earning a corner off Sergio Ramos. Ibai sends in a tempting cross, with Ely heading right at Navas.
What a half of football, as Deportivo Alaves have not looked at all like a side with no points, no goals prior to this game. Dani Ceballos has bailed out Real Madrid with a couple of lovely strikes, although former Madrid player Fernando Pacheco may need to take a look at himself in the mirror after gifting Madrid the lead following Manu Garcia's excellent equalizer.
Stay tuned for the second half, coming up in a few minutes!
43' THE RESPONSE OF CHAMPIONS! Pacheco makes a mess of a regulation cross into the box, running into Maripan and thus dropping the ball right into Ceballos' path in the box, and the Madrid midfielder simply strokes the ball into the net past a couple of last-ditch blocks.
42' SO CLOSE! Burgui makes a mess of a great chance to sends either Ibai or Munir clear into the box, but he overhits his pass out for a goal kick. The Mendizorrotza is rocking!
What a game of football! Real Madrid earn a hard-fought 3 points that takes the gap to Barcelona down to four, who play later tonight. It was the Dani Ceballos show, as he opened the scoring with a well-taken strike, only for Manu Garcia to deservedly draw Alaves level in the 40th minute. However, Ceballos scored minutes later to restore Madrid's lead after a gift from Pacheco. Alaves managed to hit the post twice in the second half, as they caused Madrid plenty of problems. Zinedine Zidane's side held out for a crucial win though, and will be glad to walk away with three points.
That's it from me, Sunaadh Sagar, tonight. Stay tuned for our coverage of Barcelona's game tonight - do get in touch if you have any feedback - I'm @sunaadh on Twitter.