Dani Ceballos fired a LaLiga debut double to ease pressure on boss Zinedine Zidane as Real Madrid edged out Alaves 2-1.
Former Betis midfielder Ceballos capped his league debut for Real with a smart first-half brace that set Zidane's men back to winning ways.
The 21-year-old was reported to have been frustrated to remain an unused replacement as Real bombed out 1-0 to his former club Betis on Wednesday night.
But at Mendizorroza Ceballos set any moans aside to put Real back on track, despite Manu Garcia's fierce headed equaliser and substitute Alfonso Pedraza twice hitting the post for the hosts.
Real's victory ensured Zidane's men cannot lose any further ground on Barcelona, who started the weekend with a seven-point advantage over their great rivals.
Zidane defended Real's piecemeal start to their title defence by joking that one win in their last four games had left his tenure "jinxed", before reasserting himself as the club's "shining star".