Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior delivered crucial goals on either side of halftime as Real Madrid secured a 2-1 victory over Alavés, trimming Barcelona’s lead at the top of La Liga to six points. The win came at a vital moment for Madrid, who were eager to bounce back after a disappointing spell and keep their slim title hopes alive.
Coming into the match after their Champions League quarter-final exit, Real Madrid needed a strong response, and they found it at the Santiago Bernabéu. Under pressure to regain momentum, the team ended a two-game winless run in the league. Meanwhile, Barcelona still have the opportunity to stretch their advantage again, with a game in hand and only a handful of fixtures left in the season.
Mbappé opened the scoring in the 30th minute with a composed finish, marking his 24th league goal of the campaign. Early in the second half, Vinícius Júnior extended Madrid’s lead after connecting with a well-timed pass from Federico Valverde, firing the ball into the bottom corner to make it 2-0 and put the hosts firmly in control.
Alavés, fighting to avoid relegation, showed resilience and managed to pull one back deep into stoppage time through Toni Martínez. Although the late goal added some tension, it wasn’t enough to deny Madrid all three points, as the home side held on to secure an important victory.
With a crucial El Clásico still to come, Real Madrid will need consistency and perhaps a slip from Barcelona to stay in contention for the title. Their next challenge is an away trip to Real Betis, while Alavés will look to recover when they host Mallorca in their upcoming fixture.
