In a gripping Spanish league encounter, Real Madrid managed to hold off a late surge from Deportivo Alaves to secure a 3-2 victory at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. The match saw the prolific Kylian Mbappe extending his remarkable scoring streak, crafting a masterful goal that marked his sixth goal in five matches, pushing Real Madrid closer to league leader Barcelona.
Kylian Mbappe’s dazzling performance was the highlight of the evening. The French forward, who has been an invaluable addition to the Madrid squad since joining from Paris Saint-Germain, exhibited exceptional skill in the 40th minute. A splendid give-and-go with Jude Bellingham, punctuated by a deft heel flick, allowed Mbappe to maneuver past a defender and find the back of the net, igniting the already electrified Bernabeu crowd. However, his night was cut short as he asked to be substituted in the 80th minute due to a muscle ailment, which coach Carlo Ancelotti assured was not serious.
Despite Real Madrid dominating the majority of the match, scoring early through Lucas Vázquez and later extending their lead with a goal from Rodrygo, Alaves mounted a formidable comeback. Carlos Benavídez and Kike García found the net in quick succession in the 85th and 86th minutes, respectively, putting Real Madrid’s defense under immense pressure in the dying minutes. Nonetheless, the visitors could not find the equalizer despite several promising attempts.
Vázquez reflected on the match, acknowledging the strong start and the unnecessary pressure towards the end: “We played a great match for 80 minutes, but we suffered more than we should have in the end.”
The victory brought Real Madrid within a single point of Barcelona, who are set to play against Getafe next. Mbappe now boasts seven goals in nine appearances for Real Madrid across all competitions, putting him just one goal behind Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski in the Spanish league’s top scorer race. Mbappe even had another goal disallowed for offside in the 22nd minute.
Vázquez’s early goal came just one minute into the match, a swift response following a dynamic run by Vinícius Júnior through the left flank. Rodrygo’s addition to the scoreline in the 48th minute demonstrated Real Madrid’s depth and attacking prowess. In his 300th match guiding the team, Ancelotti fielded his strongest lineup, opting not to rotate his squad despite a congested fixture list. Regular starter Dani Carvajal was rested due to fitness concerns, giving Vázquez the opportunity to start as a right back.
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Teenage Brazilian forward Endrick also had his moment when he replaced Rodrygo in the 69th minute, marking his earliest appearance yet from the bench. Within minutes of entering the pitch, Endrick came tantalizingly close to scoring, striking the post from inside the area. The match was not without controversy, as Real Madrid players, particularly Vinícius, Federico Valverde, and substitute Luka Modric, received yellow cards for protesting against what they perceived as overly aggressive challenges from Alaves players. “There is a different standard now and we have to adapt,” Ancelotti said post-match. “We have to stop protesting.”
Alaves, despite their spirited comeback, felt aggrieved that Endrick wasn’t shown a red card for an alleged kick away from the play. Their complaints added fuel to an already intense match that saw no cards given to Alaves players.
Up next for Real Madrid is a high-stakes city derby against Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano Stadium, promising yet another thrilling chapter in their season.
In other notable matches, Sevilla celebrated a narrow 2-1 win over Valladolid. The victory, however, was marred by an injury to Saúl Ñíguez, who was stretchered off early in the second half. Chidera Ejuke became the hero for Sevilla, scoring the decisive goal in the 85th minute. Valladolid continues to struggle, with their lone win this season coming in the opener against Espanyol.
Additionally, Valencia, following a much-needed 2-0 victory over Girona, were held to a goalless draw by Osasuna. Osasuna had shown a strong form, winning two out of their last three matches, providing a tough contest for Valencia.
The season’s narrative continues to unfold with riveting matches, unexpected injuries, and emerging stars, keeping football fans on the edge of their seats. As Real Madrid inches closer to Barcelona, the race for the Spanish league title promises to be more gripping than ever.
