Real Madrid continued its relentless pursuit of Spanish league leader Barcelona with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Deportivo Alaves at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. In a match that had fans on the edge of their seats till the final whistle, Kylian Mbappe extended his remarkable scoring streak, finding the net for the sixth time in five matches. The French forward’s spectacular performance was instrumental in securing the win for Madrid, bringing them within striking distance of the top position in La Liga.
Kylian Mbappe’s seventh goal since joining Real Madrid was nothing short of a masterpiece. The 40th-minute goal showcased his exceptional skill and chemistry with teammate Jude Bellingham. Mbappe initiated a give-and-go with a clever backheel flick, received the ball inside the area, and then navigated past a defender with impressive footwork before slotting it into the net. This goal not only exemplified his individual brilliance but also the cohesive play that has become a hallmark of Madrid this season. Despite later requesting a substitution in the 80th minute due to a slight muscle ailment—which Coach Carlo Ancelotti assured was not serious—Mbappe’s contribution had already set the stage for victory.
Madrid’s other scorers, Lucas Vázquez and Rodrygo, also played pivotal roles in this intense match. Vázquez wasted no time, putting Madrid ahead within just one minute from kickoff with a shot inside the area, thanks to a dynamic run by Vinícius Júnior on the left side. Rodrygo extended the lead in the 48th minute with a long run that culminated in a well-placed finish. This win extended Madrid’s unbeaten run in the league to 39 matches, a streak that includes 29 wins and 10 draws, dating back to last season.
However, the match was far from one-sided. Alaves mounted a dramatic late surge, scoring twice within consecutive minutes. Carlos Benavídez found the net in the 85th minute, and just a minute later, Kike García added another goal to the tally. Despite several late chances, Alaves was unable to score an equalizer, much to the relief of the home fans. Vázquez acknowledged the team’s struggle in the final minutes, saying, “We played a great match for 80 minutes, but we suffered more than we should have in the end.”
The victory saw Real Madrid narrow the gap to just one point behind league leaders Barcelona. Barcelona, meanwhile, maintains their perfect start to the season and will aim for a seventh consecutive win when they host Getafe, who have yet to taste victory this season.
. In his post-match comments, Ancelotti admitted that managing the intense match schedule and rotating players is a delicate balancing act, but he continues to deploy his regular starters to maintain momentum.
Mbappe, who signed as a free agent after leaving Paris Saint-Germain, now has seven goals in nine matches across all competitions for Madrid. His five league goals put him just one behind Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski, the current top scorer. In the 80th minute, when he was substituted, 18-year-old Arda Güler replaced him, marking another chapter in Madrid’s strategy of integrating young talent.
Despite the euphoria of victory, there were issues that irked Madrid. The team expressed dissatisfaction over several yellow cards handed to Vinícius Júnior, Federico Valverde, and substitute Luka Modric for protesting against what they perceived to be overly harsh tackles by Alaves players, who received no bookings. Ancelotti urged his team to adapt to the evolving standards of officiating, stating, “There is a different standard now and we have to adapt. We have to stop protesting.”
Alaves, on the other hand, had grievances of their own. They believed that a red card should have been shown to Madrid’s teenage forward Endrick, who came off the bench in the 69th minute and later appeared to kick an opponent away from the play. Besides the contentious moments, Endrick nearly capped his early appearance with a goal, striking the post from inside the area shortly after coming on.
Real Madrid now looks ahead to their next formidable challenge—a city derby against Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano stadium. The derby promises another high-stakes encounter as Madrid seeks to continue their winning form.
In other Spanish league action, Sevilla midfielder Saúl Ñíguez was stretchered off with an apparent leg injury during Sevilla’s 2-1 home victory over Valladolid. Chidera Ejuke scored the decisive goal in the 85th minute, securing Sevilla’s second win in three matches. Meanwhile, Valencia followed up their first win of the season with a goalless draw against Osasuna, who have won two of their last three fixtures.
This dynamic round of matches in the Spanish league has once again demonstrated the excitement and unpredictability that defines La Liga. As the season progresses, the battle for supremacy is expected to intensify, with every game carrying significant implications for the title race.
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