In Real Madrid's match against Rayo Vallecano, Carreras won a penalty and scored a goal, helping the team to a 4-1 victory. AS reported that Carreras is constantly proving he is not just an alternative, and Mourinho has always been very satisfied with his professional attitude and training performance.

It's easy to go with the flow, but going against the wind is not so simple. That's exactly what Álvaro Carreras is doing. Twelve months ago, another left-back was a major signing, and he himself was once in the spotlight. After Cucurella's arrival, he didn't back down; instead, he made his mark. This time, he seized his first real big opportunity. He delivered an excellent performance in his first start since Cucurella established his position. He won a penalty and scored a goal. Against Rayo Vallecano, he was like a sharp knife, especially in the opponent's half, full of impact and precision. Mourinho said before the game that he "had oil in his legs," and at the Bernabéu, not far from the Valdebebas training ground, Carreras played like an F1 car.

This was one of his most complete performances in a white shirt, especially in the first half, where he was almost everywhere. He was very active from the start. In the 13th minute, he reached the ball first, and the opposing player fouled him, earning Real Madrid a penalty, which Mbappé converted. Before anyone could react, in the 17th minute, he himself became the scorer. After Vinicius made a tackle, Carreras cleverly ran to the loose ball, played a one-two in the box, and calmly slotted the ball into the near corner. He played with great composure. Last season, he contributed to 5 goals, scoring 2 and assisting 3, but yesterday he was directly involved in two goals in one game. In addition, he made several dangerous runs, helping Real Madrid speed up their attacking play.

At the start of the second half, Rayo Vallecano had their best period thanks to Zivzivadze's performance, and Carreras had to strengthen his defense, but the problem was not on his side. His performance was impressive: he created 3 chances, completed all 2 of his dribbles, made 3 tackles, 3 clearances, and won 3 duels, tied for the most on the field with Diomande; he completed 54 passes with an 88% success rate, second only to others in the team, and had 90 touches. Interestingly, Cucurella came on as a substitute, but Carreras was not replaced.

"It was a great team performance, but I'm also happy with the goal. Mbappé passed the ball back to me in the box, and I took the shot. I'm very happy and have been enjoying this dream from day one. I want to continue enjoying this experience and keep working hard to achieve my goals," he said with a smile after the match. He also pointed out Mourinho's demands: "The coach is very demanding. It's hard to maintain 100% intensity for 90 minutes. Bringing on Cucurella in the last few minutes was to help me defensively." And Carreras responded with a flawless performance, proving that he can step up whenever the team needs him, and with full confidence.

Mourinho has always been clear about this. Even in preseason, he was very satisfied with Carreras's daily performance and professional attitude. As players returning from the World Cup and new signings gradually joined the team, Carreras steadily established himself. He not only fulfilled his tasks but also delivered brilliant performances multiple times, such as in the warm-up match against Fiorentina; sometimes he was placed in a more advanced position, and Mourinho also experimented with him in different roles. He did not back down from these new challenges; instead, he continued to prove himself. Just like yesterday, he wants everyone to understand that he is far more than just an alternative.

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