Real Madrid beat Alaves 2-1 on Tuesday at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior scoring to cut Barcelona’s La Liga lead to six points. Madrid controlled key phases through direct attacking play and recovered from recent setbacks to secure the result.
Madrid built their attacks through quick vertical passes into the final third. Mbappe operated centrally and attacked space outside the box, while Vinicius stretched play from the left. This structure forced Alaves to defend deep and narrowed their midfield lines. A low defensive block aims to compress space between defence and midfield, but Madrid disrupted it with shots from distance and quick combinations.
Mbappe opened the scoring in the 30th minute with a strike that deflected past the goalkeeper. The goal came from sustained pressure around the edge of the box. He added constant movement and created separation from defenders, which allowed him to take early shots.
Vinicius doubled the lead early in the second half after connecting with Federico Valverde’s pass. He struck low into the corner from distance. Madrid used width and pace to isolate defenders, which created the space for that finish.
Alaves created chances by targeting gaps behind Madrid’s defence. Toni Martinez and Angel Perez both found space in transition. Madrid’s defensive line occasionally left room for direct runs, and Alaves exploited that with quick forward passes.
Martinez reduced the deficit with the final kick of the match. His goal followed persistent attacking pressure late in the game. Madrid failed to fully control the closing minutes, which exposed their defensive fragility.
Madrid ended a two-match winless run in La Liga and remain six points behind Barcelona, who play Celta Vigo next. The result keeps the title race open but leaves Madrid reliant on dropped points elsewhere.
“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,” said coach Alvaro Arbeloa. He focused on short-term targets and avoided discussing the title gap, which reflects Madrid’s limited margin for error.
“I don’t care much about what’s at stake for me personally. What matters to me is what’s at stake for Real Madrid.” He shifted attention away from speculation over his position and reinforced a results-driven approach.
Madrid next face Real Betis away, while Alaves host Mallorca.
