Real Madrid managed to hold on to a hard-fought 1-0 win against Alaves on Sunday, despite a red card for star player Kylian Mbappe in the first half. The victory kept them four points behind league leaders Barcelona in the La Liga standings.
The match at Alaves’ Mendizorroza Stadium saw an intense and dramatic encounter. Real Madrid, despite playing with a man down for most of the game, managed to secure all three points.
Mbappe was shown a red card after a reckless challenge on Antonio Blanco in the 38th minute. His dismissal put his team under pressure, but Real Madrid’s defense remained resolute throughout the match.
However, the hosts were also reduced to 10 men in the second half after Manu Sanchez fouled Vinicius Junior, evening things out for the remainder of the game.
Eduardo Camavinga’s brilliant curling shot from outside the box in the 15th minute was the only goal of the match, and it proved enough to give Madrid the lead.
The French midfielder found the back of the net after a precise assist from Fede Valverde. The early strike gave Los Blancos the advantage, although the game remained fiery throughout.
Assistant coach Davide Ancelotti, standing in for his father, Carlo Ancelotti, who was serving a suspension, managed the side in a match that saw a number of close calls.
Real Madrid started the game with Vinicius Junior on the bench, as they looked to rest some of their key players for the upcoming Champions League clash against Arsenal.
The focus was also on improving defensive performance after conceding 11 goals in the past four matches, including a painful 3-0 loss to Arsenal in the first leg of their quarter-final.
Despite going down to 10 men, Real Madrid pushed forward and fought to maintain their slim lead. Alaves, though pushing for an equalizer, struggled to break through Madrid’s defense. Raul Asencio’s header was ruled out after a foul on goalkeeper Jesus Owono by Antonio Rudiger, and Madrid’s defense held firm as the game progressed.
As the match wore on, both sides had chances to score. Madrid’s Valverde came close with a long-range shot that sailed just wide of the top corner. In the final stages, Real Madrid had opportunities to double their lead, but Alaves’ defense, despite being a man down, fought hard to keep them at bay. Madrid also brought on key players like Vinicius and Jude Bellingham to help stabilize the game and provide some fresh legs.
The game ended with a clean sheet for Madrid, which was a welcome morale boost for the team ahead of their crucial Champions League match against Arsenal on Wednesday.
