Real Madrid Keeps La Liga Title Hopes Alive with 2-1 Victory Over Deportivo Alavés

Real Madrid defeats Alaves 2-1 with goals from Mbappe and Vinicius Jr, moving within six points of Barcelona in the La Liga title race.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 22, 2026, 7:53 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Google Sports Data and AFP.

Mbappé Breaks Drought to Open Scoring

Real Madrid entered the match under significant pressure following their recent exit from the UEFA Champions League and a frustrating domestic slump. The breakthrough arrived in the 30th minute when Kylian Mbappé ended his personal league scoring drought. The French forward unleashed a powerful strike from outside the penalty area that took a significant deflection off an Alavés defender, deceiving the goalkeeper to find the back of the net. This marked Mbappé's 24th goal of the La Liga campaign, reaffirming his status as the league's top scorer.

Vinícius Júnior Doubles the Advantage

The home side maintained their momentum into the second half, doubling their lead in the 50th minute. Vinícius Júnior showcased his individual brilliance by cutting inside and firing a clinical shot from distance. The strike left the Alavés goalkeeper with no chance and provided Real Madrid with a much-needed cushion. The goal was a testament to Madrid's offensive persistence, though the match was tempered by a first-half injury to defender Éder Militão, who was forced off in the 44th minute.

Defensive Resilience Amid Late Alavés Pressure

Despite trailing by two, Deportivo Alavés remained competitive and created several high-quality scoring opportunities as the match progressed. Real Madrid’s goalkeeper, Andriy Lunin, was called into action multiple times, delivering a stellar performance to keep the visitors at bay. Alavés struck the woodwork twice during a frantic final period, highlighting defensive lapses that have troubled Real Madrid in recent weeks.