Kylian Mbappe On The Mark As Real Madrid Sink Alaves

Match Overview

Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior scored as Real Madrid defeated Alaves 2-1 on Tuesday at the Santiago Bernabeu. This victory kept Madrid’s hopes alive for catching Barcelona in La Liga. Mbappe recorded his league-leading 24th goal with a deflected shot on the half hour mark, marking his first goal since early February. Vinicius added a second from distance early in the second half, which turned out to be crucial as Alaves managed a late goal through Toni Martinez in stoppage time. The three points ended a two-match winless streak for Madrid in La Liga and reduced their deficit to six points from leaders Barcelona, who were set to face Celta Vigo on Wednesday.

Coaching Perspective

Real Madrid head coach Alvaro Arbeloa expressed the team’s determination, stating, “We have six matches coming up, the next one in three days. The aim is to win those matches – that’s the goal we’ve set ourselves as a team.” Arbeloa, whose position has been subject to increasing scrutiny, emphasized that his focus is on the club rather than his personal situation, saying, “What matters to me is what’s at stake for Real Madrid.”

This match comes as Madrid seeks to avoid a second consecutive season without a major trophy, following their recent exit from the Champions League after being defeated by Bayern Munich last week.

First Half Highlights

In the early stages of the match, Alaves, who are battling relegation and were unbeaten in four matches, put pressure on Madrid. Angel Perez found himself behind the Madrid defense but chose to pass instead of shooting when he was only faced with goalkeeper Andriy Lunin. Toni Martinez then tested Lunin following a moment of space.

Mbappe broke the deadlock for Madrid when his shot from just outside the box deflected off a defender, wrong-footing Alaves’ goalkeeper Antonio Sivera. The French captain almost added another moments later, with Sivera making a save. Eder Militao also came close but hit the crossbar, sustaining an injury in the process and having to leave the game before halftime.

Alaves’ Martinez nearly equalized with a close attempt, poking a ball against the post, with his subsequent effort being expertly saved by Lunin.

Second Half Development

Vinicius Junior extended Madrid’s lead early in the second half with a powerful strike from 25 yards, providing the home side with crucial breathing space. Brahim Diaz was then denied by an impressive clearance off the line from an Alaves defender.

Despite trailing, Alaves continued to push for a goal, with Victor Parada’s diving header hitting the upright. Martinez eventually found the net for Alaves with an inventive flick in stoppage time, but it only served as a consolation. Following the match, loud jeers rang out from the Madrid crowd as they voiced their displeasure at the final whistle.

Other La Liga Outcomes

In other matches on the same day, Real Betis came from behind to secure a 3-2 victory over Girona, with Rodrigo Riquelme scoring the decisive goal ten minutes before full-time. Athletic Bilbao recorded a 1-0 home win against Osasuna, courtesy of Gorka Guruzeta’s first-half goal, while Mallorca and Valencia played to a 1-1 draw.