Real Madrid 2-1 Deportivo Alaves: Mbappe 30, Vinicius 50; Martinez 90+3
Alvaro Arbeloa said Real Madrid would not stop fighting until the title is mathematically out of reach and against Deportivo Alaves at the Bernabeu they turned words into action, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior scoring either side of half-time to give the home side a 2-1 win and end a worrying run of four games without a victory.
Coming off the back of their Champions League quarter-final exit to Bayern Munich, Madrid needed a response but started nervously. Alaves, hovering just above the relegation zone, were the sharper side early on but Madrid’s breakthrough came midway through the first half in fortunate fashion.
Mbappe’s tentative strike on 30 minutes took a wicked deflection off a defender, wrong-footing goalkeeper Antonio Sivera and ending the forward’s league scoring drought that stretched back to February.
Madrid found more control after the interval and doubled their lead five minutes into the second half. Vinicius collected a pass from Federico Valverde and with Mbappe dropping off for a run, the Brazilian elected to go alone, driving a low effort into the corner from distance.
The second goal should have settled proceedings, but Madrid never fully convinced. Alaves continued to threaten and finally scored deep in stoppage time when Toni Martinez hit a speculative shot from distance, but it was too little too late.
