Real Madrid: Mbappé and Rodrygo rescue crucial victory

Under immense pressure after a disheartening week, Real Madrid faced a must-win situation against Alavés in Vitoria. Following back-to-back defeats at the Santiago Bernabéu to Celta Vigo and Manchester City, the Merengues found themselves seven points adrift of La Liga leaders FC Barcelona. With their defensive lineup severely depleted due to injuries to key players like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Éder Militão, Dani Carvajal, David Alaba, Ferland Mendy, and Fran García, as well as the suspension of Carreras, coach Xabi Alonso was forced to make significant adjustments. Among these was the first-team debut of Valdepeñas at left-back, while Kylian Mbappé returned to the starting XI after missing the Manchester City clash.

Despite these changes, Real Madrid struggled to assert their dominance. Although Alonso could breathe a sigh of relief with a narrow 2-1 victory, the performance left much to be desired. The match began positively for the visitors as Mbappé showcased his brilliance with a stunning goal in the 24th minute. However, the momentum shifted in the second half when Carlos Vicente equalized for Alavés after taking advantage of a lapse in Madrid’s defense. Initially flagged offside, Vicente’s goal was upheld by VAR, revealing he was onside thanks to Antonio Rüdiger’s positioning.

Alonso’s Tactical Dilemmas

In a bid to regain control, Real Madrid ramped up their attacking efforts after halftime. Attempts from Federico Valverde and Vinícius Júnior went unanswered as they struggled to break through Alavés’ resolute defense. Eduardo Coudet, Alavés’ coach, sought to inject new life into his team by substituting Calebe for Vicente just before he scored the equalizer. Vicente’s impact was immediate; he latched onto a precise pass from Antonio Blanco and skillfully finished past Thibaut Courtois.

Late Drama Seals the Win

The tension escalated as Vicente nearly put Alavés ahead moments later. However, it was Rodrygo who ultimately restored Real Madrid’s lead in the 76th minute, converting a pass from Vinícius Júnior and finally breaking his goal drought. Despite having opportunities to extend their lead further, Madrid settled for the 2-1 result that provided much-needed relief for Alonso amid speculation regarding his future.

This hard-fought victory not only alleviates immediate pressure but also narrows the gap with Barcelona to four points as the season progresses. As they look ahead, questions remain: Can Real Madrid build on this momentum? Will they find consistency amidst their injury woes? Only time will tell as they continue their pursuit of La Liga glory.