Real Madrid were back in action after a week of rest. A La Liga duel against Alavés to rebuild after the team’s recent poor results, whether in the Champions League or in the championship, with this bad series of four matches without knowing victory. If the title already seems promised to FC Barcelona, nine points ahead before the kick-off of this match, the Merengues were keen to clean up their more than tarnished image this season. Aware of the symbolic stakes of this match, Alvaro Arbeloa brought out the heavy artillery. Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius Jr were there, supported by Jude Bellingham and Arda Güler in particular. Opposite, the Basques who occupy the position of first non-relegation and for whom this match therefore had a significant sporting and accounting stake.
It was Quique Sanchez Flores’ team that started the game the best. In the intensity, in the involvement and in the game, with a first serious opportunity for the Basques from the 3rd minute, with a shot from Boyé blocked at the last minute by the defense. The Bernabéu public was not going to be very patient, and the first whistles began to fall very quickly, aimed at Vinicius Jr in particular. THE Babazorros managed to make their way towards the Madrid surface quite easily, even if little by little, the Merengues managed to close the ranks a little. With the ball, it was very complicated, and Kylian Mbappé was quite subdued in the first half hour of play… However, it was he who made the difference first. With a little success. He thus fired a shot from outside the area, deflected by a defender, deceiving a helpless Sivera (1-0, 30th).
A fairly annoyed Bernabéu
An opening score which put Real Madrid on the right path, since after this goal of KM10the Merengues began to seriously dominate, no longer being worried by opponents who did not cross the halfway line. Trent Alexander-Arnold was not far from finding the target (32nd), and later he even hit the bar (44th), while Kylian Mbappé had just missed a big opportunity (43rd), being whistled by the fans. Bad news just before the break, however: Éder Militão was replaced, injured, just before the break. Toni Martinez, however, was very close to conditioning the Bernabéu with a volley over the bar, then a second attempt repelled by Lunin (45th + 5). Mbappé missed another opportunity, missing a lob when he had the 2-0 at the end of his feet (45th+6). Upon returning from the locker room, Real Madrid would take the break quite quickly.
Vinicius Junior struck from outside the area, placing the ball flush with Sivera’s right post (2-0, 50th). A great achievement from number 7, who made apologetic gestures towards the Merengue public during his celebration. Enough to knock out a valiant Alavés team, but not able to compete with the Madrilenians, while Arbeloa took the opportunity to bring in slightly less usual players like Mastantuono, Brahim Diaz, Dani Carvajal or even Camavinga, very contested at the moment in Madrid. Sivera prevented Kylian Mbappé’s double with a good intervention (61st). Behind, Tenaglia took the ball out on his line to prevent Brahim Diaz from joining the party. Real Madrid was clearly in management mode, even if Alavés also tried to get back into the match, with Toni Martinez still dangerous in the area, but who came up against a vigilant Lunin (76th). Parada hit the post with his head (82nd). Real suffered at the end, and the changes clearly weakened the team, finally conceding a goal in added time, the work of Toni Martinez, deflecting a shot with a beautiful backheel. The victory allows us to temporarily come back to six points behind FC Barcelona, who will challenge Celta tomorrow, but the Madrilenians left the pitch under the whistles…
