Álvaro Carreras has shown strong determination to prove his worth and secure a starting role at Real Madrid, arriving in top condition to compete with new signing Marc Cucurella. Although the arrival of Cucurella appeared to make his task much harder, the Ferrol-born left-back rolled up his sleeves to convince Portuguese coach José Mourinho that he can play an important part for the team.
After a pre-season in which he was the player with the most minutes on the pitch, Carreras carried that momentum into competitive matches. The meeting with Rayo Vallecano provided the clearest summary of what he is trying to deliver this season for the club.
A Decisive Start Against Rayo Vallecano
According to the Spanish newspaper Marca, Carreras’s burst forward in the 13th minute led to a penalty, which Kylian Mbappé converted to open the scoring. The move began with a driving run full of determination and ended with a foul by defender Rubén Lejón. The referee had no hesitation in awarding the penalty, and Mbappé scored the first goal. The forward then returned the favour to his teammate shortly afterwards.
In the 16th minute, just three minutes later, Carreras made another incursion into the box and combined brilliantly with Mbappé. The left-back found himself facing the goal and placed the ball past goalkeeper Emilio Bernad, scoring a fine goal to cap a perfect opening 17 minutes.
Solid Defensively and Decisive in Attack
Carreras showed defensive solidity on a quiet night for Real Madrid whenever Rayo Vallecano attempted to attack down his side, while remaining highly decisive in the attacking phase. He linked up well with Vinícius Júnior on the left flank and received constant support from Bernardo in central areas, making his side the main source of Real Madrid’s attacks. The pitch tilted heavily towards the left throughout the match.
Thriving Under Mourinho’s Management
Mourinho has successfully motivated Carreras and helped him return to his best form after the uncertainty that followed the end of last season and the signing of Marc Cucurella. The Portuguese coach made it clear that all players would receive minutes this season, and he is applying that approach with the left-back, who experienced excellent moments last season under Xabi Alonso before struggling under Álvaro Arbeloa and ultimately ending up on the bench.
Carreras regained his best technical and physical levels after using the summer to reorganise and then producing a notable performance during pre-season. His current form suggests he is ready to compete for a regular place in the team.