Kylian Mbappe continued his remarkable scoring run as Real Madrid secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over Alaves in the Spanish La Liga on Tuesday, moving closer to league leaders Barcelona.
The French forward netted his seventh goal since joining Los Blancos, showcasing his brilliance at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. In the 40th minute, Mbappe executed a stunning give-and-go with Jude Bellingham, beginning with a deft heel flick. Collecting the return pass inside the area, he weaved past a defender with a slick move before calmly finding the back of the net.
Mbappe’s performance was instrumental, but his evening was cut short when he requested substitution in the 80th minute due to a muscle ailment. Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti reassured fans, stating that the issue was not serious.
Lucas Vazquez opened the scoring for Real Madrid less than a minute into the match, capitalizing on Vinicius Junior’s electrifying run down the left flank. Rodrygo extended the lead to 3-0 just after halftime, embarking on a long solo run before finishing with precision in the 48th minute.
Despite holding a comfortable lead, Real Madrid faced a late surge from Alaves. Carlos Benavídez struck in the 85th minute, followed by Kike García’s goal just a minute later, igniting hopes of an unlikely comeback. Alaves pressed fiercely in the closing moments but were unable to find an equalizer.
“We played a great match for 80 minutes, but we suffered more than we should have in the end,” reflected Vazquez after the match.
Ancelotti, marking his 300th game with Real Madrid, fielded a strong lineup despite a congested schedule. Vazquez started at right-back in place of the rested Dani Carvajal. The match also saw the introduction of 18-year-old Brazilian forward Endrick, who replaced Rodrygo in the 69th minute. Endrick nearly made an immediate impact, hitting the post from inside the box shortly after coming on.
The match was not without controversy. Real Madrid players Vinicius Junior, Federico Valverde, and Luka Modric received yellow cards for protesting, as tensions rose over what the team perceived as heavy challenges from Alaves. “There is a different standard now and we have to adapt. We have to stop protesting,” Ancelotti commented on the situation.
Alaves, who finished the match without any bookings, felt that Endrick should have been shown a red card following an off-the-ball incident.
With this victory, Real Madrid extended their unbeaten run in La Liga to 39 matches, comprising 29 wins and 10 draws since last season. The team now sets its sights on the upcoming capital derby against Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano Stadium.
Reference(s):
Mbappe extends scoring streak as Real Madrid top Alaves 3-2 in La Liga
cgtn.com
