Carlo Ancelotti predicted David Alaba would score a free-kick winner in Real Madrid’s opening La Liga game against Almeria on Sunday.

David Alaba scored with a stunning 74th-minute free-kick, whipping his effort in off the post with his first touch of the game having come off the bench, earning the reigning champion a hard-fought victory at recently promoted Almería.

The 30-year-old defender said Carlo Ancelotti told him exactly what to do before coming on from the bench.

“Before I came on, Ancelotti told me to take the free kick because I was going to score. After the goal, he told me, ‘See, I told you!”

Real Madrid defeated Almeria 2-1 after coming from behind with goals from Lucas Vazquez and David Alaba to nullify the initial advantage given the newly-promoted side by Largie Ramazani.

Ancelotti told the press after David Alaba’s crucial goal: “He is very good taking free kicks. The substitution came at the time of the foul and he is very good from that position. It was a very good shot.”

Why did some Real Madrid players struggle in the game against Almeria?

The head coach Carlo Ancelotti, who had started Tchouameni, Camavinga, and Valverde against Almeria, admitted his youngsters struggled with the intensity of the game.

“The youngsters have played as they usually do. For what they do in training, they deserve to play. But on an emotional level, the game has weighed a bit on them. That is quite normal, they are very young, and the shirt weighs heavy.”

After the win against Eintracht Frankfurt, Carlo Ancelotti have made four changes from the team that started in Helsinki: Nacho and Rüdiger as new center backs and Tchouameni and Camavinga in midfield to give some rest time to Modric and Casemiro.

Read more: Almeria 1-2 Real Madrid: Alaba nets free-kick to secure comeback win over Almería