Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain – Real Madrid narrowly secured a 1-0 win against Alavés on April 13, 2025, in a high-stakes La Liga clash despite Kylian Mbappé being sent off just before halftime. After a trying week for Los Blancos, which included a loss to Valencia, they needed this victory to keep their title hopes alive, trailing Barcelona by four points in the league.
Eduardo Camavinga opened the scoring with a stunning strike from the edge of the box in the 34th minute, giving Madrid a brief sense of control in the match. However, tensions rose quickly as Kylian Mbappé received a red card in the 38th minute following a reckless tackle on Antonio Blanco that originally earned him a yellow but was upgraded after a VAR review.
The sending off forced Madrid to play with ten men for the remainder of the match. Coach Carlo Ancelotti urged his players to maintain composure, saying, “I want to see a Madrid that is capable of getting back our good feelings.” The team responded, albeit with difficulty, as they tried to hold onto their slim lead against an Alavés side desperate to escape relegation.
Alavés applied pressure but struggled to create clear scoring opportunities, often thwarted by a resolute Madrid defense. The home side was eventually reduced to ten men themselves after Manu Sánchez was shown a red card in the 70th minute for a foul on Vinícius Júnior, leveling the playing field.
Real Madrid attempted to capitalize on their opponents’ disadvantage, but they couldn’t find the net a second time. Players like Jude Bellingham and Brahim Díaz came close, but the match ultimately ended with Madrid claiming all three points.
Analysis following the match reflected on the implications of Mbappé’s red card. Commentators questioned how the absence of the team’s star player would affect their strategy ahead of crucial upcoming fixtures against Arsenal and the Copa del Rey final. As they continue their campaign, the focus will be on whether they can adapt quickly to maintain their title challenge without Mbappé.
In player ratings, Camavinga stood out with an impressive score of 8.7 for his critical goal and overall contribution. Thibaut Courtois was noted for his clean sheet, receiving a score of 8.4, while Mbappé’s performance rated a disappointing 2 following his red card.
