Back on track, Real Madrid edged past Deportivo Alavés by 2-1 under Tuesday night lights. Goals came from Kylian Mbappé first, then Vinícius Júnior followed suit, breaking a stretch of four games without a win. At the Santiago Bernabéu, momentum shifted slightly, cutting through recent struggles. With this lift, they stay close in the race, just six points off top spot. Barcelona still lead, though their match against Celta Vigo looms ahead.
Real Madrid stepped onto the pitch again after crashing out to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarters. Lately, things at home haven’t gone smoothly. Stumbling against Girona FC ended in a stalemate, then came a loss to RCD Mallorca, piling on more strain. Still, head coach Álvaro Arbeloa kept his eyes fixed ahead, making it clear each upcoming game must be won, nothing less, as the battle for the trophy gets tighter by the day.
Goals, pressure, and moments of redemption for Real Madrid
A nervous beginning unfolded in Madrid as Alavés pressed hard, sparking grumbles among fans inside the stadium. Booing echoed through parts of the stands because the team moved sluggishly at first. Then came relief around the half-hour mark. Mbappé fired a shot that bent off a defender, leaving keeper Antonio Sivera stranded. That goal snapped his quiet spell in front of the net, bringing his total to 24 for the campaign.
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Vinícius struck again just after halftime, firing a strong shot from distance, the first time he’s scored in nearly two months across any team. Even though some supporters had voiced their doubts mid-game, he lifted his hand in regret right after the ball hit the net; people clapped back at him. Later on, Arbeloa pointed out how deeply involved he stays throughout matches, always moving, always feeling every moment with the jersey.
Even though Madrid stayed on top, tension hung in the air. Reaching his 150th victory with the team meant little when boos followed Eduardo Camavinga across the pitch. Down near the end, Alavés clawed a goal back - Toni Martínez scoring in added minutes, sparking fresh unease. With survival at stake, their push unsettled the closing moments.
Off the pitch, things haven’t gone smoothly for the away team, only a single victory shows up in their past nine outings. Midway through the first half, Madrid's rhythm broke when Éder Militão limped out, yet early signs point to nothing too severe.
