Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti said he is focusing on the positives after his side secured a 3-2 victory against Alaves on Tuesday but not before a late fightback from the visitors.
Kylian Mbappe scored for the fourth consecutive game to help Real Madrid cut the gap on La Liga leaders Barcelona to one point before their rivals host Getafe on Wednesday.
Madrid looked to be cruising against Alaves with goals from Lucas Vazquez, Mbappe and Rodrygo before a late salvo from the visitors rocked Ancelotti's side. Carlos Protesoni and Kike Garcia scored two goals in two minutes in the final stages but Madrid held on.
"This is football, you can think the game has finished, (then there's) a small slip and they score the first, they get confidence and you lose it, this is what happens," Ancelotti told reporters.
"Obviously we don't want this to happen, but it can. We have to highlight that for an hour the team played well and that gives us confidence."
Los Blancos overpowered Alaves from the start in what was a hugely uneven contest for most of the game, despite the Basque side's solid start to the season.
Ancelotti brought Vinicius Junior back into the starting line-up and gave Vazquez a rare start and the pair combined inside the first minute. The Brazilian winger surged in from the left flank and cut the ball back for a simple finish from Vazquez.
Ancelotti said Monday he wanted more intensity at the outset of matches after Madrid had scored just one first-half goal this season in La Liga or the Uefa Champions League, and his demand was swiftly met.
Los Blancos dominated with Alaves barely reaching Thibaut Courtois' penalty box. Despite that, Madrid's second goal only came five minutes before the interval, when Mbappe and Jude Bellingham combined beautifully.
France captain Mbappe conjured a clever flicked pass to the England international, who completed a one-two by sending his team-mate through on goal. Mbappe took two deft touches to shake his marker and get a sight of goal, before stroking home clinically for his fifth league goal.
Rodrygo expanded Madrid's lead soon after the interval, roaming in with freedom from the right and firing through Alaves goalkeeper Antonio Sivera's legs.
Teenage Brazilian striker Endrick hit the post with a deflected effort and Abde Rebbach also struck the woodwork as Alaves made a rare foray forward. The 18-year-old was then fortunate not to be dismissed when he kicked out at Alaves defender Santiago Mourino.
Mbappe was taken off after 80 minutes and appeared to be suffering some discomfort, holding the back of his thigh.
"He's fine, he's fine, a little overloaded, he asked me for the change to avoid problems," said Ancelotti.
The visitors pulled one back after 85 minutes when Protesoni curled home a sweet strike from the edge of the box. Protesoni then turned provider with a fine ball over the top which Kike Garcia fired home well.
Madrid hung on for the victory, their 39th consecutive league game unbeaten in Ancelotti's 300th game at the helm across two spells at the club, ahead of Sunday's derby clash with Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano. The Rojiblancos' stadium was where they last tasted defeat in the top flight, exactly a year ago.
"I'm happy for the win," Vazquez told Real Madrid TV. "I think we had a great game until the 80th minute, when two mistakes cost us two goals against us, and we had to suffer more than we should have. With the game that we played, we didn't deserve that ending."
Tempers frayed at full time when Ancelotti confronted the referee, seemingly unhappy with a few of his players being booked while some of Alaves' tough tackling went unpunished.
"Fair or unfair, we have to adapt to the new rules," a calmer Ancelotti said later, as several of his players were carded for protesting decisions.
Alaves coach Luis Garcia Plaza was also angry at full-time after Endrick got away with lashing out.
"The Endrick incident should have been a red card, we should have played the last 10 minutes with an extra player," said the coach. It's red, there's nothing more to it, I won't speak more about this topic."
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
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Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
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COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
The biog
Born: Kuwait in 1986
Family: She is the youngest of seven siblings
Time in the UAE: 10 years
Hobbies: audiobooks and fitness: she works out every day, enjoying kickboxing and basketball
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
Company%C2%A0profile
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The nine articles of the 50-Year Charter
1. Dubai silk road
2. A geo-economic map for Dubai
3. First virtual commercial city
4. A central education file for every citizen
5. A doctor to every citizen
6. Free economic and creative zones in universities
7. Self-sufficiency in Dubai homes
8. Co-operative companies in various sectors
9: Annual growth in philanthropy
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Washmen Profile
Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Laundry
Employees: 170
Funding: about $8m
Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
