Kylian Mbappe’s and Rodrygo Goes’ goals on Sunday earned Real Madrid a tense 2-1 win at Deportivo Alaves in Spanish La Liga to potentially keep coach Xabi Alonso in his job.
Second-placed Madrid trimmed league leaders Barcelona’s advantage back to four points and recorded only their third victory in the past nine games across all competitions.
After a home defeat by Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday last week, Spanish media reported that anything but a victory would cost Alonso his position.
Photo: AFP
After Mbappe’s superb opener, Carlos Vicente pulled Alaves level in the second half, but Rodrygo secured the visitors a much-needed victory at the Mendizorrotza Stadium.
“It was a hard-fought game, we competed well, got in front and then lost a bit of control,” Alonso told reporters. “Alaves play with a lot of intensity, it’s hard to dominate throughout. We came here to win, and we got the three points.”
Alonso said, as he did after the City game, that he has the support of his squad.
“We’re all together in this. One game isn’t enough to change the dynamic,” he said. “Now before the winter break we have a cup game on Wednesday, and a game at home [in La Liga to come].”
Alonso was able to bring his key player, Mbappe, back into the side after he could only watch the defeat by City from the bench because of a painful knee.
The coach also handed a debut to Victor Valdepenas at left-back, with both Alvaro Carreras and Fran Garcia suspended, and Ferland Mendy one of several players out injured.
Mbappe appeared to be feeling his knee and also hobbling in the first few minutes, but, despite that, was the game’s most influential player.
The forward had a shot deflected wide and then fired narrowly over as Alaves sat deep and tried to keep the 15-time European champions at bay.
By the time Mbappe opened the scoring in the 25th minute, his discomfort seemed to have cleared up.
Released by Jude Bellingham, Mbappe drove toward goal at full tilt and whipped a shot into the top-right corner for his 17th league goal of the campaign.
England international Bellingham then blasted home from close range, but his strike was ruled out for handball.
Needing to fight back, Alaves moved on to the front foot and took control of the game before the break, almost pulling level.
Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made a fine save with his head, even if he knew little about it, to deny Pablo Ibanez from close range.
Los Blancos were dangerous again soon after the interval, with Alaves goalkeeper Antonio Sivera saving well from Mbappe and then Vinicius Junior.
Real came to rue those misses when Vicente pulled Alaves level after 68 minutes.
The forward got in behind Antonio Rudiger, controlled former Madrid midfielder Antonio Blanco’s chipped pass and whipped a shot past Courtois.
Eduardo Coudet’s side almost took the lead when Vicente’s low cross from the right was nudged wide by Toni Martinez, who was nudged off-balance by Raul Asencio’s pressure.
Instead, Madrid pulled back in front, with Vinicius breaking down the left and crossing for Rodrygo to finish from six yards out.
It was the Brazilian’s second goal in two games after going the previous 32 matches without finding the net, and a tense Alonso celebrated wildly, knowing that his future could depend on it.
Vinicius had appeals for a penalty turned down as he fell under a challenge from Nahuel Tenaglia, and Bellingham came close in stoppage-time as Madrid tried in vain to ease their nerves by putting the game to bed.
“I thought it was a clear penalty, Vini was going very fast, there was contact... It surprises me that it didn’t go to VAR [video assistant referee],” Alonso said.
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