Deportivo Alaves 1-2 Real Madrid

It was a hard-fought win but Real Madrid eventually got the job done away at Alaves in a 2-1 victory for the visitors. Los Blancos did not play anywhere near their best but a brilliant goal from Kylian Mbappe and Rodrygo’s second goal in as many games saved their blushes after Carlos Vicente had equalised in the 68th minute.

Xabi Alonso started Real Madrid’s big 4 for the first time since his arrival and it paid dividends as all got either a goal or an assist. Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe started up top in the 442 with Jude Bellingham in left midfield and Rodrygo in right midfield. Abderrahman Rebbach and Calebe Goncalves were on the left and right flank respectively for Alaves, with Lucas Boye up top.

From minute 1, the tension at the Mendizorrotza was palpable, with Real Madrid arriving under significant pressure to keep their title hopes alive and secure the position of manager Xabi Alonso. The visitors looked to assert control early, but the game quickly developed a physical edge as Alaves tried to disrupt Madrid’s rhythm. This aggression bubbled over as early as the 5th minute when Alaves defender Victor Parada was shown a yellow card for a bad foul on Federico Valverde near the touchline, setting a combative tone for the opening exchanges.

Despite the rough treatment, Madrid began to carve out opportunities. Ten minutes into the contest, they fashioned their first real opening. Rodrygo managed to find valuable space on the right side of the box, a dangerous area from which he has punished teams before. However, the Brazilian winger couldn’t convert the opportunity, dragging his right-footed shot wide of the left post when a test of the goalkeeper was expected. It was a warning sign for Alaves, but one they initially survived.

The breakthrough for the visitors arrived in the 24th minute, produced by a moment of undeniable quality that highlighted the individual brilliance within the Madrid ranks. Jude Bellingham, operating in midfield, spotted the movement of Kylian Mbappé and unleashed a precise through ball into his path. The Frenchman collected the ball and drove menacingly into the box, weaving past his marker with characteristic agility before curling a trademark finish into the top right corner to make it 0–1.

The game exploded into a period of frantic action immediately following the opener. Just two minutes later, in the 26th minute, Madrid believed they had doubled their lead and effectively killed the contest. Arda Güler delivered a cross finding Jude Bellingham, who controlled the ball and fired it home with authority. The celebrations were cut short, however, as the referee blew the whistle, penalizing Bellingham for a handball during the control phase, and the goal was ruled out, keeping Alaves within touching distance.

Madrid continued to pepper the goal in this high-intensity window, with Mbappé unleashing another shot from outside the box moments later, only to see it bravely blocked by a desperate Alaves defense.

As the first half drew to a close, the momentum threatened to shift. In the 45th minute, just before the break, a sudden lapse in concentration from the Madrid backline gifted Alaves a clear sight of goal. It looked certain to be the equalizer that would change the complexion of the halftime team talks, but Thibaut Courtois produced a superb reflex save to deny the hosts and preserve Madrid’s slender lead heading into the tunnel.

The second half began with Real Madrid looking to re-establish their dominance and find the cushion of a second goal. In the 50th minute, Federico Valverde tried to take matters into his own hands following a corner kick. The Uruguayan midfielder tried his luck from distance, striking an effort that whistled just wide of the left post.

Two minutes later, the match witnessed its most spectacular defensive sequence. In the 52nd minute, Alaves goalkeeper Antonio Sivera kept his side in the game with incredible goalkeeping. First, he reacted sharply to save a point-blank shot from Vinícius Júnior that was heading for the top corner. The danger wasn’t over, as the rebound fell kindly to Kylian Mbappé. The French striker fired a follow-up effort, but Sivera recovered instantly to save that shot as well in the center of the goal, a double save that galvanized the home crowd.

Buoyed by their goalkeeper’s heroics, Alaves began to push forward. In the 60th minute, Lucas Boyé attempted a strike from outside the area, though his effort flew high and wide to the right, failing to trouble Courtois. However, their persistence paid off in the 68th minute amidst a chaotic VAR sequence. Carlos Vicente made a smart run behind the Madrid defense and slotted the ball past Courtois. The celebrations were initially muted as the linesman flagged for offside, but after a lengthy VAR check, the decision was overturned and the goal was awarded. The stadium erupted as the scoreline shifted to 1–1.

With the game level, the momentum swung dangerously in favor of the hosts. In the 72nd minute, Alaves missed a golden chance to take the lead. Carlos Vicente turned provider, sending a cross into Toni Martínez, who found himself in a prime position but put his shot wide of the left post, a let-off that Real Madrid would soon punish.

The decisive moment arrived in the 76th minute via a swift Real Madrid counter-attack. Vinícius Júnior powered down the left flank, stretching the Alaves defense before delivering a low cutback into the box. Rodrygo timed his run perfectly, arriving to prod the finish into the bottom right corner and restore Madrid’s lead at 1–2.

The closing stages were physically demanding and fraught with tension. In the 83rd minute, the match-winner Rodrygo appeared to pick up a knock and was substituted for Brahim Díaz. Three minutes later, controversy flared again when Vinícius Júnior went down in the box under a challenge from Nahuel Tenaglia. He pleaded for a penalty, but the referee waved play on, and VAR opted not to intervene.

Discipline began to fray as Alaves chased the game in vain. Alaves substitute Abde Rebbach was booked in the 88th minute, and young talent Franco Mastantuono replaced Vinícius Júnior in the 89th minute to help see out the result. Deep in stoppage time, Ander Guevara received a yellow card for pulling Jude Bellingham back by the shirt.

Bellingham nearly had the final say in the 96th minute, driving into the box to add a third, but Sivera denied him once again with a solid save. The final whistle confirmed a 2–1 victory for Real Madrid, a result that allowed them to breathe a sigh of relief and narrow the gap to league leaders Barcelona to four points