Real Madrid Edge Alaves to Stay Alive in La Liga Title Race

Real Madrid did just enough to stay in the La Liga title race, grinding out a result without control or flair.

A 2-1 victory over Alaves at the Santiago Bernabeu keeps the gap at six points. Still a climb, still a stretch, but not over yet. The mood inside the stadium told its own story. Relief more than celebration.

Kylian Mbappe struck first. Thirty minutes in, calm as ever, he guided the ball past the keeper with the kind of finish that barely needs power. The crowd rose, not wildly, but with belief creeping back in.

Then came Vinicius Junior. Early in the second half, he latched onto Federico Valverde’s pass and drilled it low. Clean. Precise. That second goal gave Madrid breathing space, though it never felt fully safe.

Madrid Hold Firm Under Late Pressure

Alaves kept pushing and pulled one back through Toni Martinez deep in stoppage time, briefly rattling the Bernabeu before Madrid saw it out.

The win ends their short league slump after the European exit. Not dominant, but solid. And right now, that is enough to keep things alive.

Manager Alvaro Arbeloa pointed to Vinicius after the match. The winger had come under pressure from the crowd, but responded the only way that matters, with a goal and a performance full of intent.

“He doesn’t hide,” Arbeloa said. “He steps up when it gets difficult.”

And he did. Every run had intent, every touch looked sharper. Still, the bigger picture hasn’t changed. Barcelona can pull away again, and Madrid have no margin for mistakes now. Every game carries pressure.

Next up, a trip to Real Betis. Another test. Another chance to keep this chase alive.

Because for now, in the Real Madrid vs Alaves clash, Madrid did what they had to do. And in a tight La Liga title race, that is sometimes all that matters.