Real Madrid Secures Hard-Fought Victory Against Alaves

With only two teams managing to secure wins at Estadio Mendizorrotza this season, Alonso and his squad were eager for an early goal to calm nerves. However, Kylian Mbappe’s first two attempts in the opening minutes failed to hit the mark.

Kylian Mbappe Breaks the Deadlock

Midway through the first half, the French star finally found his stride. After receiving a precise pass from Jude Bellingham on the left flank, he skillfully cut inside and sent an exquisite shot past Antonio Sivera, giving Real Madrid the lead.

Goal Highlights

• Goal Scorer: Kylian Mbappe
• Assisted By: Jude Bellingham
• Minute: 23rd

Despite their momentum, Real Madrid had a brief scare when Bellingham scored from a corner, only for the goal to be disallowed for handball. Alaves gained more possession in the last fifteen minutes of the half but failed to create significant threats until the dying moments. A free kick into the box led to a close-range effort by Pablo Ibanez, which was miraculously saved by Thibaut Courtois’ face.

The away team went into halftime leading, marking the first time this season that Alaves had trailed at home.

Strong Start to the Second Half

As the second half commenced, Real Madrid took confidence from their previous ten league victories when scoring first. Federico Valverde almost extended the lead with a long-range effort that went wide, and Sivera had to make an exceptional double save to stop attempts from Mbappe and Vinicius Junior.

Equalizer and Response

Midway through the second half, Alaves managed to equalize against the run of play. A long pass found Carlos Vicente, who executed a delicate finish just out of Courtois’ reach. Initially ruled offside, the goal was confirmed via VAR, showcasing Vicente’s impeccable timing.

Rodrygo came close with a free-kick that soared over the crossbar, casting doubt on whether it would be one of those nights for Los Merengues. However, he quickly redeemed himself with a smart finish just moments later. Vinicius Junior, using his speed to beat a defender on the left, set up Rodrygo for the tap-in to restore the lead.

Goal Details

• Goal Scorer: Rodrygo
• Assisted By: Vinicius Junior
• Minute: 77th

Vinicius Junior later appealed for a penalty, while Bellingham and Brahim Díaz both nearly added a third. Without any last-minute chances for Alaves, Real Madrid secured a crucial win, extending their unbeaten away streak to six games. In contrast, Alaves suffered their eighth consecutive defeat against Real Madrid.

Player of the Match

Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)