In a key Matchday 33 clash of the La Liga season, Real Madrid welcomed Deportivo Alavés to their home ground. The hosts found the net through Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior, who secured a 2-1 victory and snapped Real Madrid’s four-game winless streak across all competitions.
This win carries significant weight. By reducing the gap to FC Barcelona to six points (with a game in hand) at this crucial stage in the title race, Real Madrid keep their championship hopes alive heading into the final stretch of the season. Building on this momentum, the game itself featured several decisive moments.
Mbappé Breaks the Deadlock as Madrid Take Control
The match began at a lively pace, with both sides quickly settling in. Real Madrid were the first to threaten. In the 7th minute, Jude Bellingham drove forward and unleashed a long-range effort, but it was blocked by the defense. Shortly after, Vinícius took a quick corner to create an opening, though Federico Valverde fired his shot wide.
The breakthrough came in the 31st minute. Arda Güler played a pass into space, and Mbappé struck from outside the box. His shot deflected off an Alavés defender, wrong-footing the goalkeeper and finding the back of the net to give Madrid a 1-0 lead.
However, Madrid suffered a setback before halftime. Éder Militão hit the crossbar and picked up an injury in the process, forcing him to be replaced by Antonio Rüdiger. Alavés also came close to equalizing before the break, hitting the post and nearly leveling the score.
Vinícius’ Wonder Goal Doubles the Lead
After the restart, Real Madrid wasted no time extending their advantage. In the 50th minute, Valverde delivered a pass from midfield, and Vinícius controlled it before firing a powerful shot from outside the box into the top corner, a brilliant goal that made it 2-0.
With a two-goal lead, Madrid controlled the tempo and used possession to limit Alavés’ attacking chances. In the 62nd minute, Brahim Díaz had a shot inside the box, but it was cleared in time by the defense.
As the match entered its final stages, Alavés pushed forward. In the 83rd minute, they came close to scoring from a cross, but their header struck the post. The visitors finally pulled one back in stoppage time, when a long-range effort took a deflection, and Toni Martínez reacted quickly to finish from close range, making it 2-1.
Despite late pressure, Real Madrid held on to secure the win.
Signs of Recovery as Title Race Remains Open
Overall, Real Madrid showed improved attacking efficiency, with Mbappé and Vinícius playing decisive roles. However, their defense showed signs of vulnerability late in the game, an area that needs improvement.
With this important victory, Madrid not only ended their poor run but also re-entered the title race. Whether they can maintain consistency in the coming matches will be crucial in determining if they can continue to challenge Barcelona for the La Liga crown.
