La Liga: Madrid’s Alonso keeps his job following tense win at Alaves
&imwidth=600&imheight=450&format=webp&quality=medium "La Liga: Madrid’s Alonso keeps his job following tense win at Alaves")
La Liga Madrid’s Alonso keeps his job following tense win at Alaves Photograph: (AFP)
After Mbappe's superb opener, Carlos Vicente pulled Alaves level in the second half, but Rodrygo secured the visitors a much-needed victory at Mendizorroza Stadium.
Kylian Mbappe and Rodrygo Goes's goals earned Real Madrid a tense 2-1 win at Alaves in La Liga on Sunday to potentially keep coach Xabi Alonso in his job. Second-placed Madrid trimmed league leaders Barcelona's advantage back to four points and recorded only their third victory in the last nine games across all competitions. After a home defeat by Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday, Spanish media reported that anything but a victory would cost Alonso his position. After Mbappe's superb opener, Carlos Vicente pulled Alaves level in the second half, but Rodrygo secured the visitors a much-needed victory at Mendizorroza Stadium.
"It was a hard-fought game, we competed well, got in front and then lost a bit of control," Alonso told reporters. “Alaves play with a lot of intensity, it's hard to dominate throughout. We came here to win, and we got the three points.”
The coach said, as he did after the City game, that he has the support of his squad.
Also read | Watch | Lionel Messi arrives at Wankhede Stadium, meets Sunil Chhetri, Sachin Tendulkar during GOAT Tour
"We're all together in this. One game isn't enough to change the dynamic," he said. “Now, before the winter break, we have a cup game on Wednesday, and a game at home (in La Liga to come).”
Alonso was able to bring his key player, Mbappe, back into the side after he could only watch the defeat by City from the bench because of a painful knee. The coach also handed a debut to Victor Valdepenas at left-back, with both Alvaro Carreras and Fran Garcia suspended, and Ferland Mendy one of several players out injured.
Trending Stories
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
)
)
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
)
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
)
)
)
)
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
)
)
)
)
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
)
)
)
)
)
)
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
)
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
)
)
)
Mbappe appeared to be feeling his knee and also hobbling in the first few minutes, but, despite that, was the game's most influential player. The forward had a shot deflected wide and then fired narrowly over as Alaves sat deep and tried to keep the 15-time European champions at bay.
By the time Mbappe opened the scoring in the 25th minute, his discomfort seemed to have cleared up. Released by Jude Bellingham, Mbappe drove towards goal at full tilt and whipped a shot into the top right corner for his 17th league goal of the campaign.
England international Bellingham then blasted home from close range, but his strike was ruled out for handball.
Needing to fight back, Alaves moved on to the front foot and took control of the game before the break, almost pulling level. Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made a fine save with his head, even if he knew little about it, to deny Pablo Ibanez from close range.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.