Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti was delighted to sign off for 2023 with a 1-0 win at Alaves.
Veteran Lucas Vazquez proved the matchwinner on the night, with Nacho Fernandez being sent off after VAR's intervention.
Ancelotti said: "We're really pleased with tonight because it was very difficult but thanks to the immense commitment of this team, we have won it. Playing with ten men for over half an hour required a huge effort. That's why we deserved to win it at the end."
It was a tough game and when we went a man down, everyone thought this might be the day we slip up. This team has unfathomable energy. We dug in well, played some good stuff and defended well with ten men, and we got our reward at the end."
On Nacho, he said: "The referee saw it as a yellow and the VAR saw it as a red. That's the problem with football, the referee sees it one way and the VAR sees it another."
Ancelotti was also pleased with Aurelien Tchouameni, who filled in at centre-back.
"He'll be upset, but he's a fantastic centre-back. He plays very well, he brings the ball out from the back like few others and tactically he's very good. He's lucky that he can play in two positions: as a defensive midfielder and at centre-back."
