Real Madrid beat Sevilla 10-a-side 2-0 in the final match of the year on Saturday, with goals from Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbop, giving coach Xabi Alonso some relief before La Liga goes on a winter break.
Bellingham scored with a header in the 38th minute, and Mbapp added another point with a penalty in the 86th minute after Sevilla lost defender Marcao for a second booking for a reckless tackle.
Sevilla coach Matas Almeida was also sent off by the referee during the half-time break.
Alonso has been under pressure for several weeks due to a string of poor results and overall lackluster play from his star-studded team. There has been speculation in the Spanish sports media that the first-year manager could be replaced.
Xabi Alonso under pressure
Current Madrid club president Florentino Preez will have two weeks to think carefully about the team’s future before their next game against Real Betis on January 4.
Alonso could not have afforded another blunder at the Santiago Bernabéu, as his team had lost their last two games. However, even after being reduced to 10 men with 20 minutes remaining, Madrid fans still had reason to complain after Sevilla created a number of scoring chances.
Still in good shape at the age of 37, Alexis Suches and right-back Juanl Suches were the most prominent in a Sevilla team that exploited holes in Madrid’s defence.
Madrid needed Thibaut Courtois to stop four shots from Alexis, Isaac Romero and Alfonso Gonzlez in the second half. However, Sevilla could have won if they had shown more finishing early on.
The result remained in doubt until Mbapp won the spot-kick after Juanle fouled Rodrigo inside the area.
Madrid were temporarily in second place behind Barcelona until the latter visited third-placed Villarreal on Sunday.
