Real Madrid clinched a much-needed 2-1 victory at Alaves in La Liga on Sunday, with Kylian Mbappé and Rodrygo Goes on the scoresheet. The win kept Xabi Alonso in his job as Madrid’s coach, who was reportedly facing the sack after a disappointing home loss to Manchester City in the Champions League just days before.
Mbappé Opens the Scoring
The match was a crucial one for Alonso, and Real Madrid started brightly despite some early signs of discomfort from Kylian Mbappé, who had been sidelined in midweek due to knee pain. The French forward was the game’s most influential player and showed no signs of lingering injury after his first-half goal.
In the 25th minute, Jude Bellingham played a perfectly weighted pass to Mbappé, who raced towards goal and fired a powerful shot into the top corner, giving Madrid a 1-0 lead. It was his 17th league goal of the season, and it came at a vital moment for the team.
Alaves Fights Back
However, the hosts weren’t going to make it easy. Alaves responded strongly after conceding, pushing forward and causing Madrid some issues. Thibaut Courtois, Madrid’s goalkeeper, was called into action, making a crucial save with his head to deny Pablo Ibáñez from close range just before the break.
Alaves continued to press in the second half, and their efforts paid off when Carlos Vicente pulled them level in the 68th minute. The Alaves striker took advantage of some slack defending from Madrid, tapping in a rebound to make it 1-1 and put Madrid’s nerves on edge.
Rodrygo’s Late Strike Secures the Win
Just when Madrid seemed to be on the ropes, Rodrygo Goes delivered the decisive blow. After several missed opportunities by Vinicius Junior and Mbappé, the Brazilian winger scored a much-needed goal for Madrid in the 79th minute, ensuring all three points and a hard-fought win.
Alonso’s Job Safe… For Now
The win was crucial not just for the team’s standing in the league, but also for Xabi Alonso’s future as Real Madrid coach. Spanish media had reported that anything less than a win would likely cost the coach his job, following their 3-1 loss to Manchester City midweek, which ended their hopes in the Champions League. The victory reduces the gap to league leaders Barcelona to four points, keeping Madrid’s title hopes alive.
Alonso made several key decisions for this match, including recalling Mbappé to the starting lineup after his injury and giving Victor Valdepenas his debut at left-back, with Fran Garcia and Alvaro Carreras suspended. Despite the absence of Ferland Mendy and several other key players, Madrid managed to grind out the win.
Next Steps for Real Madrid
The victory marked only Madrid’s third win in the last nine matches across all competitions, highlighting their struggle for consistency this season. The team will need to build on this result as they head into the final stretch of the season, where every point will be crucial in their pursuit of the La Liga title and other trophies.
For Xabi Alonso, the win was vital not just for the team but for his own managerial career, and he will hope this result sparks a return to form for the team.
