Real Madrid narrowly held off a late surge from Alaves to secure their fifth consecutive victory, with a tense 3-2 win at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday.
The match seemed destined for a comfortable Real Madrid win, but late goals from Alaves made for a nervy finish. Carlo Ancelotti surprised many by fielding a full-strength squad, despite the upcoming Madrid derby against Atletico.
However, the decision paid off almost immediately. Stand-in captain Lucas Vazquez opened the scoring in the first minute, slotting home a Vinicius Junior cutback.
Kylian Mbappe doubled the lead in the first half with a stunning goal, arguably his best in a Real Madrid shirt.
After a quick exchange with Jude Bellingham, Mbappe sliced through the Alaves defense and calmly finished past goalkeeper Antonio Sivera.
In the second half, Real Madrid added a third with another piece of individual brilliance. Rodrygo Goes dribbled through the Alaves’ defense, driving into the box and slotting the ball through Sivera’s legs from a tight angle.
With a comfortable 3-0 lead, Ancelotti opted to rest Eder Militao, bringing on Jesus Vallejo. But the defensive switch nearly cost Madrid dearly.
Alaves struck back quickly, with Carlos Protesoni ending the hosts’ hopes for a clean sheet. Just two minutes later, Kike Garcia added a second for the visitors, making for a tense final few minutes at the Bernabeu.
Despite the late scare, Real Madrid held on for the win, moving within one point of league leaders Barcelona, who have a game in hand against Getafe.
Leave a Reply