MADRID: Real Madrid secured a 2-1 home victory over struggling Deportivo Alaves in La Liga on Tuesday with goals from Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior to end a four-match winless run in all competitions.

The win moved second-placed Real to 73 points, six behind leaders Barcelona ahead of the Catalan side’s home fixture against Celta Vigo. For Alaves, the defeat leaves them 17th, a solitary point above Elche in the final relegation spot.

“We have six matches coming up, the next one in three days. The aim is to win those matches - that’s the goal we’ve set ourselves as a team,” said Real coach Alvaro Arbeloa, whose position is under increasing scrutiny.

“I don’t care much about what’s at stake for me personally. What matters to me is what’s at stake for Real Madrid.”

Real dominated the opening stages as they sought to recover from a recent Champions League exit at the hands of Bayern Munich, while they had also failed to win their last two La Liga outings.

Mbappe broke the deadlock after 30 minutes with a speculative low strike from outside the area. The effort appeared comfortable for Alaves’ Antonio Sivera, but a heavy deflection off defender Jonny Otto wrong-footed the keeper, leaving him helpless as the ball trickled into the bottom corner.

Real maintained their dominance as Eder Militao struck the woodwork, injuring himself in the process and having to go off before the break.

Toni Martinez nearly levelled for Alaves when he poked a cross against the post, with his follow-up strike clawed out by Andriy Lunin.

Vinicius hammered in from 25 yards to give Real breathing space, and Brahim Diaz was denied by a brilliant headed clearance off the goalline.

As the intensity faded, Alaves grew into the game and forced Real onto the back foot in the closing stages, with Martinez pulling a goal back deep into stoppage time.

Elsewhere on Tuesday, Real Betis came from behind to triumph 3-2 at Girona as Rodrigo Riquelme bagged the winner 10 minutes from time.

Gorka Guruzeta’s first-half goal lifted Athletic Bilbao to a 1-0 home win over Osasuna, while Mallorca and Valencia drew 1-1.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2026