La Liga: Real Madrid Stays Close to Barcelona with Win Over Alaves
Match Highlights
Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe was sent off for an ugly lunge, but his side still managed to beat Alaves 1-0 on Sunday, staying four points behind Barcelona at the top of La Liga.
The Game
Mbappe’s dismissal put his team-mates under pressure, but Alaves were also reduced to 10 players in the second half when Manu Sanchez hacked down Vinicius Junior. Eduardo Camavinga’s first-half curling effort from the edge of the box was enough to split the teams, as Madrid produced a gritty display to match Barcelona’s single-goal victory over Leganes on Saturday.
Post-Match Reaction
"It was a hard game, tricky at first because of how intense our opponents were, and then after Kylian’s red card the team pulled together," said Real Madrid’s Dani Ceballos. Assistant coach Davide Ancelotti took the place of his father Carlo Ancelotti, who was suspended, in the Madrid dug-out.
Inconsistency and Defense
Los Blancos began with Vinicius on the bench, with the Brazilian’s inconsistent form and the upcoming Champions League battle against Arsenal in mind. Carlo Ancelotti had called for his team to defend better after conceding 11 goals in the last four games, including the painful 3-0 quarter-final first-leg defeat to the Gunners on Tuesday. That call may have fed into Mbappe’s wild foul on Antonio Blanco, which caused the striker’s dismissal.
The Red Card
Mbappe’s red card four minutes later was a set-back for Madrid, who came under pressure in the second half. Los Blancos fought off the hosts and brought on Vinicius and Jude Bellingham, who had also been given a rest. Alaves were reduced to 10 men when Vinicius broke loose and Sanchez hacked him down with a poor challenge, which might have merited a red card even if the defender was not the last man.
The Clean Sheet
The clean sheet will be a morale boost for Los Blancos, who can turn their attention to Arsenal’s visit to the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday. "The only chance that we have is (knowing that) together we are stronger," added Ceballos. "Thanks to the fans for their continuous support, we need you more than ever."
La Liga Table
Defeat left Alaves 17th, one point above the relegation zone. Later Sunday, Athletic Bilbao came from behind to beat Rayo Vallecano 3-1, further tightening their grip on fourth place. Villarreal, fifth, also made a comeback to edge sixth-placed Real Betis 2-1, with Ayoze Perez scoring the winner against his former side. The Yellow Submarine are three points clear of Betis with a game in hand, with fifth place potentially a Champions League qualification spot depending on Spanish teams’ performance in European competition this season.
Conclusion
Real Madrid’s gritty display and Camavinga’s curling effort were enough to secure a 1-0 win over Alaves, despite Mbappe’s red card. The result keeps Los Blancos within striking distance of Barcelona at the top of La Liga.
FAQs
Q: What was the score in the match between Real Madrid and Alaves?
A: Real Madrid won 1-0.
Q: Who scored the goal for Real Madrid?
A: Eduardo Camavinga scored the goal with a curling effort from the edge of the box.
Q: Why was Kylian Mbappe sent off?
A: Mbappe was sent off for an ugly lunge on Antonio Blanco.
Q: How does the result affect the La Liga table?
A: The result keeps Real Madrid four points behind Barcelona at the top of La Liga.