Real Madrid 2-1 Alaves: Mbappe and Vinicius score to end hosts' winless run

Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior scored either side of half-time as Real Madrid cut Barcelona's lead at the top of La Liga to six points with a 2-1 win over relegation-threatened Alaves.

Match Report

Alvaro Arbeloa's side, playing for the first time since being knocked out of the Champions League quarter-finals by Bayern Munich, ended a run of two league games without a win.

But Barca have the chance to reinstate their nine-point lead on Wednesday evening when they host Celta Vigo, with just six games to go.

Real are on course for only their fifth trophyless season this century - 2004-05, 2005-06, 2009-10, and 2020-21 being the only four.

But with Arbeloa's future reportedly uncertain, winning La Liga may be the only way he keeps his job for next season.

It was French striker Mbappe who opened the scoring at the Bernabeu in the 30th minute, with a smart finish for his 24th league goal of the season.

Six minutes into the second half, Brazil winger Vinicius doubled Real's lead. He latched onto Federico Valverde's pass to smash into the bottom corner for his 12th of the campaign.

Alaves halved the deficit with the last kick of the game through strikerTony Martinez netted.

Real still have to travel to Barcelona in May for La Liga's second El Clasico of the season, but are relying on Hansi Flick's leaders to slip up elsewhere.

Up next for Real is a trip to Real Betis on Friday night, while Alaves host Mallorca a day later.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

0' Congrats! Youth League winners Real Madrid U19 presented at Bernabéu

7' Bellingham shot takes deflection, behind for corner

8' Real Madrid quick corner, Valverde angled shot over

23' Alexander-Arnold direct free-kick hits the wall

31' GOAL! Mbappé shot deflects in. Real Madrid 1-0 Alaves

33' Alexander-Arnold volley just over the bar

42' Vinicius with pass, Mbappé shot wide

44' Bellingham pass, Militão shot hits the bar

45' Hope it's minor. Militão injured while shooting, forced off

50' GOAL! Vinicius fires into the corner. Real Madrid 2-0 Alaves

51' Real Madrid break, Mbappé lobs over

57' Substitution: Mastantuono, Brahim Díaz on

62' Díaz curling shot cleared off line by Alavés defender

71' Camavinga dispossessed in own half. UCL red card hangover?

79' Mastantuono makes room, shot over

83' So close! Parada header hits the post

Line-ups

Real Madrid XI: Alexander-Arnold, Mbappe, Valverde, Militao, Lunin, Tchouameni, Vinicius, Bellingham, Güler, Álvaro Carreras, Dean Huijsen

Subs: Alaba, Carvajal, Rudiger, F Mendy, Ceballos, Brahim, Fran García, Camavinga, Gonzalo García, Sergio Mestre, Franco Mastantuono, Thiago Pitarch

Alaves XI: Denis Suarez, Castro, Guridi, Sivera, A.Martínez, L.Boyé, Nahuel Tenaglia, Antonio Blanco, Victor Parada, Youssef Enríquez, Ángel Pérez

Subs: Raúl Fernández, Mariano, Alena, Ander Guevara, Ville Koski, Jon Pacheco, Ibrahim Diabate, Pablo Ibáñez, Calebe, Aitor Mañas, Grégoire Swiderski, Egoitz Muñoz