MADRID: Withstanding the rain and cold, Real Madrid pulled off a hard-fought victory against Deportivo Alaves to put pressure on Barcelona at the top of La Liga on Saturday.

Sergio Ramos and Dani Carvajal scored second-half goals as Real Madrid beat their tough Basque Country opponents 2-1 to take the league lead from Barcelona.

“We overcame the rain, the cold, the hard fouls,” veteran Real Madrid left back Marcelo said. “Its in these types of matches that you win the league.”

Ramos scored with a header off a set-piece taken by Toni Kroos in the 52nd minute, then committed the foul leading to a penalty kick for Alaves, which was converted by Lucas Perez in the 65th. Ramos was shown a yellow card for his foul, an elbow to the face of Alaves forward Joselu.

Carvajal netted the winner from close range five minutes later off the rebound of a header by Francisco Isco Alarcon. Alaves goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco made an initial save against Isco’s header before the ball went off the woodwork and ricocheted back toward Carvajal in front of the goal.In another match, Norway midfielder Martin Odegaard had another impressive performance to steer Real Sociedad to beaing Eibar 4-1 in San Sebastian. The 20-year-old Odegaard, who is on loan from Real Madrid, led Sociedad’s vibrant attack with his creative passing and capped the win with a fine left-footed curling strike in the 80th.

Robin Le Normand headed Sociedad in front before Mikel Oyarzabal and Willian Jos added goals. Pape Diop made it 1-1 for Eibar.

Valencia beat Villarreal 2-1 in a regional derby with goals from Spain striker Rodrigo Moreno and 19-year-old Ferran Torres.

Joaqun Snchez scored a penalty and Nabil Fekir added another goal as Real Betis won 2-1 at Mallorca.

Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2019