Mbappe speaks out, Real closes the gap with Barca in La Liga

Match result - The impressive performances from Kylian Mbappe and Rodrygo enabled Real Madrid to earn a tough win against Alaves, keeping their pursuit of Barcelona alive in the La Liga championship battle.

From the opening minutes, Alaves applied effective pressing, forcing Real Madrid to build their attacks slowly and patiently seek openings. Nevertheless, the visitors still created notable chances with shots by Mbappe and Rodrygo, though their accuracy left something to be desired.

The turning point came in the 24th minute when Mbappe capitalized on a favorable pass inside the box to unleash a precise shot into the top corner, giving Real Madrid the lead.

The goal helped the white team gain better control of the match, but Alaves remained undeterred. The home side continuously responded with fluid combinations, creating several dangerous moments, including a disallowed goal for offside and multiple shots that tested Real Madrid’s defense.

In the second half, the pace of the game intensified. Xabi Alonso’s squad earned numerous corners and applied heavy pressure, but Alaves’ goalkeeper Sivera performed excellently. In the 70th minute, the home team’s efforts paid off with a stunning long-range strike from Carlos Vicente, equalizing 1-1 amid a stadium eruption.

However, Alaves’ joy was short-lived. In the 77th minute, Vinicius Junior delivered a clever assist to Rodrygo, who finished accurately to restore Real Madrid’s lead. The final minutes featured several controversial moments, cards, and VAR interventions, but no further goals were scored.

Ultimately, Real Madrid triumphed 2-1 after an emotionally charged match. This result allows the Royal Club to maintain a 4-point gap behind league leaders Barcelona, continuing their pursuit of their archrivals in the title race.