Real Madrid’s French striker Kylian Mbappe (centre) celebrates his team’s second goal against Alaves
JAVIER SORIANO
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Kylian Mbappe scored for the fourth consecutive game on Tuesday as Real Madrid survived a final scare to beat Alaves 3-2 in La Liga.
Los Blancos, second, reduced the gap to Barcelona to one point before the leaders host Getafe on Wednesday.
Madrid dismantled Alaves with goals from Lucas Vazquez, Mbappe and Rodrygo before a final strike from the visitors left Carlo Ancelotti’s side reeling just when they thought the game was won.
Carlos Protesoni and Kike Garcia scored two goals within two minutes in the closing stages, but Madrid held on to the win.
“I’m happy with the win,” Vazquez told Real Madrid TV. “I think we played a great game until the 80th minute, then two mistakes cost us two goals and we had to suffer more than we should have.”
“With the game we played, we didn’t deserve this ending.”
Despite the Basques’ solid start to the season, the game was overwhelming for Alaves from the start and was extremely uneven for long stretches.
Ancelotti brought Vinicius Junior back into the starting line-up and gave Vazquez a rare start. The two combined within the first minute to put Madrid ahead.
The Brazilian winger burst forward down the left and passed the ball back for Vazquez to finish easily.
Ancelotti said on Monday he wanted more intensity from his team at the start of games after Madrid failed to score a first-half goal in either La Liga or the Champions League this season, and his demand was quickly met.
The Royal team dominated, Alaves barely reached Thibaut Courtois’ penalty area.
Nevertheless, Madrid’s second goal came only five minutes before half-time when Mbappe and Jude Bellingham combined wonderfully.
French captain Mbappe played a clever pass to the English international, who completed a one-two and sent his teammate straight at goal.
With two clever touches, Mbappe shook off his marker and created scoring opportunities before calmly firing the ball into the net, scoring his fifth league goal.
Rodrygo extended Madrid’s lead shortly after the break when he broke free from the right and shot through the legs of Alaves goalkeeper Antonio Sivera.
Teenage Brazilian striker Endrick hit the post with a deflected effort and Abde Rebbach also hit the woodwork in a rare Alaves foray.
Madrid substitute Endrick, 18, was lucky not to be sent off when he fouled Alaves defender Santiago Mourino.
The visitors reduced the deficit in the 85th minute when Protesoni curled a beautiful shot into the goal from the edge of the penalty area.
Protesoni then provided the assist with a beautiful ball over the top, which Kike Garcia shot well into the goal.
Madrid defended their victory and remained unbeaten in their 39th consecutive league game ahead of Sunday’s derby against Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano.
The Rojiblancos’ stadium was the place where they suffered their last defeat in the top division exactly one year ago.
Tempers flared after the final whistle when Carlo Ancelotti took the referee to task, unhappy that some of his players had been cautioned while some of Alaves’ hard tackles went unpunished.
Diego Simeone’s Atletico will be visiting Celta Vigo on Thursday.
