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Join on Telegram Marrakech – After a difficult stretch, which included a humiliating loss against Celta Vigo last Sunday and a Champions League defeat in the clash against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City mid-week, Real Madrid are back to winning ways, after a late 2-1 victory over Deportivo Alaves on Sunday night.
Xabi Alonso’s side took an early lead in the match thanks to Kylian Mbappe. The Frenchman, at the heart of multiple early Real Madrid attacking efforts, broke free during a 24th-minute attacking transition.
Played into open space on the left flank by Jude Bellingham, Mbappe cut inside onto his right foot, beating out the Alaves defense with his blistering pace. From just inside the 18-yard box, Real Madrid’s number 10 placed a powerful shot into the top right corner, beating Alaves goalkeeper Antonio Sivera, who could only watch the ball float its way into the back of the net.
For Mbappe, this was already the forward’s 17th goal of the ongoing LaLiga campaign, six ahead of second-placed Ferran Torres in the race for the Pichichi Trophy.
Real Madrid thought they had doubled the lead only two minutes after Mbappe’s goal, with Bellingham volleying home an Arda Guler corner kick. The goal was, however, ruled out for a handball on the English star.
Vinícius Junior hugged Xabi Alonso after his amazing assist to Rodrygo. 🤍 pic.twitter.com/V0OZxgAu0X
— Madrid Universal (@MadridUniversal) December 14, 2025
Los Blancos regressed as the first half went on, and, if not for a Thibaut Courtois heroic save in the dying moments of the period, could have conceded an equalizer to a Valiant Alaves side.
The second half kicked off with chances for both teams. Alaves, in their pursuit of an equalizer, first created chaos in Madrid’s box through a cutback situation. Then, Mbappe, once more, receiving a Bellingham pass in open space behind the Alaves defense, was, this time, denied by Sivera. Vinicius’s follow-up was parried out for a corner kick by the Spanish goalkeeper.
Alaves’ goal eventually came during the 68th minute of play. Freshly substituted in just a few seconds earlier, Carlos Vicente, with his first touch of the match, received a pinpoint long ball from captain Antonio Blanco. Now in a 1v1 against Courtois, Vicente made no mistake, placing the ball into the near top corner, an unsavable shot even for Real Madrid’s 6′ 7″ Belgian giant. First ruled out for an offside, the goal was given by referee Victor García Verdura after a VAR intervention.
Estadio de Mendizorroza’s joy was, however, short-lived. Eight minutes later, Vinicius, isolated on the left wing, headed the ball past his marker before brilliantly setting up fellow Brazilian international Rodrygo. The latter, after a darting far-post run, tapped the ball in, restoring Los Merengues’ lead.
Vincius, in a show of support for Alonso, embraced the Spanish manager on the sidelines after Real Madrid’s second goal, an interesting development after a rocky start to the pair’s relationship earlier in the season.
The Brazilian winger, operating from the left side, caused further problems for the Alaves defense. Dribbling past a pair of Alaves defenders, Vinicius appeared to have been tripped inside the box. His penalty claim, however, was controversially denied by Garcia Verdura, despite apparent, albeit light, contact on the Brazilian’s star’s left shin.
The referee’s final whistle announced a final score of 2-1 to Real Madrid, strengthening Los Blancos’ second-place position in LaLiga, trailing rivals Barcelona by four points.
What was perhaps not the most convincing win for Real Madrid, is still an important one, especially for Alonso. The manager, following Los Blancos’ poor recent form, has reportedly been under growing pressure to steer the ship back on course.
Post-match, the former Spanish international commented on his team’s win, emphasizing a need for continuous improvement to turn the Madrid club’s season around.
“Today there were positive things and things that we need in every game. And other things that we need to improve on to win and keep winning games,” Alonso said at the conference. “We need continuity and consistency, this is LaLiga. If it serves as a learning experience, let’s not forget it.”
On Vinicius’ hug, Alonso stressed the importance of a united locker room.
“We’re all in this together. We’re fighting through the good times and the not-so-good times,” Alonso commented. “Unity is essential; it’s the only way that our day-to-day solidity will give us the improvement we want.”
Real Madrid and Alonso’s next fixture will be a mid-week Copa Del Rey match against Primera Federacion (Third-tier Spanish League) side CF Talavera. The match is set to take place on Wednesday, December 17, at 9 p.m. (GMT+1) at Estadio Municipal El Prado.
