Real Madrid battled adversity to secure a 1-0 victory over Alaves, keeping their La Liga title hopes alive.
The match was marked by Kylian Mbappe’s first-ever red card for the club, as the Frenchman’s high challenge on Antonio Blanco saw his initial yellow upgraded following VAR intervention.
The dramatic incident occurred just four minutes after Eduardo Camavinga’s curling strike from the edge of the penalty area had given Real the lead. Despite being reduced to 10 men, Los Blancos relied on goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who made six crucial saves to preserve their narrow advantage.
Alaves, who themselves went down to 10 players in the 70th minute after Manu Sanchez caught Vinicius Jr with a high challenge, pushed hard for an equalizer.
Their efforts were thwarted as Courtois and Real’s defense held firm, with Carlo Ancelotti’s side managing only one shot on target in the second half against Alaves’ five.
With Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham starting on the bench ahead of Real’s Champions League second leg against Arsenal, Ancelotti turned to his stars late in the game. Despite their introduction, Los Blancos were unable to extend their lead, leaving fans anxiously counting down to their decisive European tie.
Victory keeps Real Madrid within four points of league leaders Barcelona, who defeated Leganes 1-0 on Saturday. However, Mbappe will miss next week’s home fixture against Athletic Bilbao due to suspension, putting further pressure on the team as they aim to stay in contention.
The title race promises high stakes as Real Madrid prepare for a crucial showdown with Barcelona on May 11—a fixture likely to determine La Liga’s champions.
