Real Madrid took three hard-earned points on their visit to the Mendizorrotza stadium, beating Deportivo Alavés 1-0 in a match that was made more difficult after Kylian Mbappé was sent off in the first half. Eduardo Camavinga was the one who made the difference with a great goal from the edge of the area, in a match where the white team had to show character and resist with ten men for much of the duel.
The victory consolidates Ancelotti's team in second place in the table and allows them to go into the Champions League match against Arsenal with confidence. Despite not having several of its stars in the starting eleven, Madrid was able to impose itself against an Alavés that had moments to worry, but failed to do damage on the scoreboard.
First Half Hectic And Goal Salvador de Camavinga
The match started with intensity from both teams. Madrid showed initiative from the first minutes, with Arda Güler as one of the protagonists. After eight minutes, the young Turkish player came close to opening the scoring when he was alone in front of goalkeeper Owono, who came out well to stop the chance. Güler appealed for a penalty, but the referee did not award a penalty.
Shortly after, Alavés managed to beat the white goal through Raúl Asencio, but the play was reviewed and disallowed for a previous foul by Rüdiger on the rival goalkeeper. The VAR intervened and the score remained at zero, although the play raised protests from the stands.
Just when it looked like the game was heading for a goalless halftime, Camavinga broke the deadlock with a great left-footed shot from outside the box. The Frenchman latched onto Valverde in a quick one-two and, from the edge of the area, struck a precise shot past Owono. The goal came in the 34th minute and relieved Madrid, who until then had been unable to break down the Basque side's defensive approach.
Mbappé's Expulsion Changes the Course of the Match
The outlook darkened for Real Madrid just a few minutes after the goal. In the 38th minute, Kylian Mbappé committed a hard tackle on Antonio Blanco, and although the referee initially only showed him a yellow card, after reviewing the action on the monitor he decided to change the card to a straight red. The Merengue side were down to ten men before halftime, and coach Davide Ancelotti - who was managing in place of his suspended father - was forced to adjust his approach.
With an extra man, Alavés tried to tip the balance in their favor. Carlos Vicente looked for the equalizer with a shot that went wide, while Kike García also tried to score through the air. The home team's territorial dominance increased after the expulsion, but they were unable to score in the final meters.
Real Madrid, for their part, sought to control the pace of the match and minimize risks. The entry of players such as Vinícius and Bellingham gave some air to the white team, who knew that maintaining the advantage was key not only for the current league, but also to arrive motivated to the Champions League.
Second Expulsion And Closure With Authority Of Real Madrid
The situation was evened out in the 70th minute when Alavés were also down a man. Manu Sánchez committed a hard foul on Vinícius when the Brazilian was running away alone, and being the last man, he was shown a straight red card. From that moment on, the match evened out in numbers and Real Madrid once again felt more comfortable on the pitch.
Despite losing a defender to injury, the home side continued to look for an equalizer, but the white defense held firm. Dani Ceballos came on in the final minutes and brought calmness in midfield. Bellingham had the chance to make it 0-2 in stoppage time, but was unable to finish a one-on-one against Owono.
The final whistle confirmed a victory that is worth much more than what the scoreboard says. Madrid knew how to suffer, resist with ten men and take advantage of their clearest opportunity. Camavinga was the hero of the night, in a match where every effort counted.
A total of 18 goals have been scored in the last 5⃣ 𝐃𝐞𝐫 𝐊𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐫! 🤯⚽
Which one will score the first goal?
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- Betcris (@Betcris) April 12, 2025
What's Next for Both Teams
Real Madrid is now looking ahead to the decisive Champions League match against Arsenal, where they need to come back from a 3-0 deficit. This victory in LaLiga gives them air and confidence for this European challenge. In addition, it continues to fight for first place in the table with FC Barcelona.
For their part, Alavés will have to pick themselves up from this defeat, which left feelings of frustration for not having been able to take advantage of the numerical superiority. Their objective is still to secure their permanence and winning at home will be key to achieve it.
