Mbappé and Rodrygo Fire Real Madrid to Crucial Away Win at Alavés

Kylian Mbappé and Rodrygo Goes were on the scoresheet as Real Madrid secured a hard-fought 2–1 victory away to Alavés on Sunday, a result that eased pressure on head coach Xabi Alonso.

The win reduced league leaders Barcelona’s advantage to four points and marked only Madrid’s third victory in their last nine matches in all competitions.

Coming days after a home defeat to Manchester City in the Champions League, Spanish media reports had suggested that anything short of victory could have put Alonso’s position under threat.

Mbappé opened the scoring with a superb strike, but Carlos Vicente levelled for Alavés in the second half before Rodrygo struck the decisive goal to seal the win at Mendizorroza Stadium.

Alonso recalled Mbappé after the French forward missed the loss to City due to knee discomfort. The Madrid coach was also forced to hand a debut to Víctor Valdepeñas at left-back, with Álvaro Carreras and Fran García suspended and Ferland Mendy among several players sidelined through injury.

Mbappé showed early signs of discomfort and briefly limped in the opening minutes, but he remained Madrid’s most dangerous attacking threat. He saw one effort deflected wide and another fly narrowly over as Alavés adopted a deep defensive approach.

By the 25th minute, Mbappé appeared to have shaken off the issue. Released by Jude Bellingham, he surged forward before curling a fine finish into the top-right corner for his 17th league goal of the season. Bellingham later thought he had doubled Madrid’s lead, but his close-range effort was ruled out for handball.

Alavés finished the first half strongly and almost drew level before the break, only for Thibaut Courtois to produce an instinctive headed save to deny Pablo Ibáñez from close range.

Madrid continued to threaten after the interval, with Alavés goalkeeper Antonio Sivera making smart saves to keep out Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior. The missed chances proved costly when Vicente equalised in the 68th minute, controlling Antonio Blanco’s chipped pass before firing past Courtois.

Eduardo Coudet’s side nearly went ahead soon after, but Toni Martínez pushed Vicente’s low cross wide under pressure from Raúl Asencio.

Instead, Madrid regained the lead when Vinícius broke down the left flank and delivered a cross for Rodrygo to finish from six yards. It was Rodrygo’s second goal in as many games after a lengthy goal drought, prompting an emotional celebration from Alonso on the touchline.

Vinícius later had penalty appeals waved away, while Bellingham went close in stoppage time as Madrid sought to put the match beyond doubt.