LaLiga
Rodrygo winner lifts Real Madrid past Alaves
Rodrygo secured Real Madrid a crucial 2-1 victory over Deportivo Alaves on Monday in LaLiga, ending a dismal run of form and keeping it within four points of leader Barcelona.… Show More
Rodrygo secured Real Madrid a crucial 2-1 victory over Deportivo Alaves on Monday in LaLiga, ending a dismal run of form and keeping it within four points of leader Barcelona.
Madrid, under pressure after two straight losses in all competitions, broke the deadlock through Kylian Mbappe's stunning first-half strike.
However, a resilient Alaves levelled in the 68th minute through Carlos Vicente. The visitor restored its lead eight minutes later, courtesy of a counter-attack led by Vinicius Jr, whose assist was converted by Rodrygo.
The victory keeps Real second in the standings on 39 points, four adrift of Barcelona, while Alaves is 12th on 18 points.
The narrow triumph in the Basque Country provided manager Xabi Alonso with much-needed breathing space after a run of two wins from their previous eight matches across all competitions.
The win demonstrated Real's resilience and ongoing weaknesses. Despite taking a 24th-minute lead through Mbappe's spectacular strike, it was outplayed by an Alaves side roared on by a sold-out Mendizorrotza stadium.
Mbappe had opened the scoring in trademark fashion after Jude Bellingham threaded a long pass to the French forward, who ran down the left channel before cutting inside and unleashing a bullet strike into the top corner from the edge of the box.
Despite Madrid's early lead, Alaves grew dominant as the first half progressed. The host pressured Real's makeshift defence, which featured 19 year-old academy graduate Victor Valdepenas in his senior debut at left back.
Alaves's pressure was eventually rewarded in the 68th minute when substitute Vicente, introduced moments earlier, latched onto Antonio Blanco's long ball and surged past Real's high defensive line to finish into the top corner.
Initially flagged offside, Vicente's goal was awarded after a VAR review confirmed the forward had timed his run perfectly.
Madrid's winner came as Vinicius wrestled past a defender on the left flank before driving into the penalty area and delivering a low cross, finding Rodrygo, who slid in to steer the ball home from close range.
