Real Madrid defeated Alaves 2-1 in a La Liga fixture played on Tuesday. Kylian Mbappe scored his first league goal since early February with a deflected shot in the 30th minute. Vinicius Junior added a second goal early in the second half, striking from distance. Alaves pulled one back in stoppage time through Toni Martinez. The win ended Madrid's two-match winless streak in the league. It narrowed the gap between Real Madrid and league leaders Barcelona to six points. Barcelona were scheduled to host Celta Vigo on Wednesday. Mbappe's goal marked a rare bright spot in a run of inconsistent league performances. Vinicius's strike proved decisive despite Alaves' late response. The result kept Madrid's title hopes alive, though dependent on results elsewhere. Elsewhere in the league, Real Betis won 3-2 at Girona thanks to a late goal by Rodrigo Riquelme. Girona had led twice but could not hold on. Athletic Bilbao claimed a 1-0 home win over Osasuna, courtesy of a first-half goal by Gorka Guruzeta. Mallorca and Valencia shared points in a 1-1 draw.
Mbappe's long wait for a league goal highlights how uncharacteristically quiet he has been in key moments this season despite the spotlight. His form contrasts with the expectations set by his reputation and transfer hype. Vinicius scoring from distance again shows he remains one of the few consistently dangerous players in Madrid's lineup. The late concession to Alaves suggests defensive fragility still plagues the team even in winning efforts.
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