The famous white shirts of Real Madrid emerged from the tunnel at the Santiago Bernabéu with the weight of a demanding fan base on their shoulders. Faced with the daunting prospect of a second consecutive season without major silverware, the "Royal Club" knew that anything less than three points against Deportivo Alaves would effectively hand the La Liga title to their arch-rivals, Barcelona. In a match defined by moments of individual brilliance and defensive tension, the hosts managed to secure a 2-1 victory, narrowing the gap at the top of the table to six points.
For Alaves, the stakes were equally high but for much grimmer reasons. The defeat leaves the Basque side teetering on the edge of the relegation zone, their top-flight status under severe threat as the season enters its most critical phase.
A Tentative Start And A Fortunate Breakthrough
The atmosphere in the stadium was initially tinged with anxiety as Real Madrid struggled to find their rhythm. In fact, the home side nearly gifted Alaves an early lead following a lapse in concentration. A defensive error by Alvaro Carreras presented a golden opportunity for Angel Perez; however, the attacker chose to square the ball to Lucas Boye rather than testing the keeper himself, and the chance went begging.
Shaken by the close call, Real Madrid began to dominate possession, though they found it difficult to dismantle a stubborn Alaves defensive block. The deadlock was finally broken in the 30th minute, albeit with a touch of luck. After receiving the ball in a central position, Kylian Mbappe turned sharply and unleashed a powerful long-range effort. The shot took a significant deflection off Jonny Otto, wrong-footing goalkeeper Antonio Sivera and trickling into the net to give the hosts a vital lead.
The goal acted as a catalyst for more attacking flair. Minutes later, Jude Bellingham delivered an inch-perfect cross for Eder Militao, whose towering header rattled the crossbar. Alaves, however, refused to be spectators; just before the interval, Toni Martinez displayed wonderful technique with a delicate touch that beat Andriy Lunin but unfortunately struck the post.
Vinicius Junior Sparks Second-Half Improvement
Whatever message manager Alvaro Arbeloa delivered in the dressing room at halftime seemed to resonate, as Real Madrid emerged for the second period with renewed vigor and purpose. They did not have to wait long to double their advantage and provide some much-needed breathing room.
The second goal was a showcase of the pace and clinical finishing that has come to define this squad. Federico Valverde ignited the move with a trademark surging run from midfield before sliding a pass to the left wing. Vinicius Junior took the ball in his stride, cut inside, and unleashed a breathtaking strike into the near corner. The sheer velocity and placement of the shot left Sivera with no chance, sending the Bernabéu faithful into raptures.
With a two-goal cushion, Real Madrid looked to kill the game off entirely. Brahim Diaz came closest to a third, curling a beautiful effort toward the far corner, only to see it heroically cleared off the line by Nahuel Tenaglia.
Late Drama And Relegation Worries
Despite being two goals down, Alaves showed immense character in the closing stages. Toni Martinez became a constant menace, forcing Andriy Lunin into a series of difficult saves, including a header that struck the woodwork for the second time in the match. The visitors’ persistence finally paid off during injury time. Following a shot from Ander Guevara, Toni Martinez reacted instinctively to backheel the ball past Lunin and into the net.
While the goal denied Real Madrid a clean sheet—which would have been their first in nine league outings—it proved to be too little, too late for Alaves. The final whistle confirmed a victory that ends a frustrating four-match winless streak for Arbeloa’s men and provides their first win of the month.
The Road Ahead For Both Sides
While the victory keeps the title race mathematically alive, the mountain remains steep for Real Madrid. With only seven rounds remaining, they are reliant on a significant collapse from a consistent Barcelona side, even with a crucial El Clasico fixture still to be played.
For Deportivo Alaves, the outlook is increasingly bleak. With only one win in their last ten matches and their rivals at the bottom of the table picking up momentum, the club faces a desperate fight for survival. As the season nears its conclusion, every point will be a battle, and their performance at the Bernabéu suggests they have the fight left in them, even if the results have yet to follow.