MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid beat Alaves 2-1 on Tuesday, with Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius Junior each scoring, ending a four-game winless streak and moving closer to Barcelona at the top of the Spanish league.
Victory at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium on Wednesday moved Madrid six points clear of Barcelona, who host sixth-placed Celta Vigo.
It was Madrid’s first match since losing to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals. Madrid lost the second leg 1-2 at home and 4-3 against Germany. The team’s last two games in the Spanish league were a 1-1 draw at home against Girona and a 2-1 loss against Mallorca.
Madrid got off to a slow start on Tuesday, giving the Bernabeu crowd an anxious look as Alaves had several early scoring chances. As the team struggled, some fans jeered. There were boos after the final whistle and after Alaves scored late on.
Mbappe fired a shot to break the deadlock in the 30th minute, but it hit an Alaves defender and deceived goalkeeper Antonio Civella. Mbappe, the league’s top scorer with 24 goals, has not found the back of the net in a league match since February.
In the 50th minute, Vinicius extended Madrid’s lead with a long-range shot. The Brazilian forward had not scored in his last six games for club and country.
Alaves, who are one point above the relegation zone, came within one point with Toni Martinez’s goal in stoppage time in the second half.
Alaves have only won once in their last nine league games. His only victory came in March against Celta Vigo.
Madrid’s Brazilian defender Eder Militão was forced to be substituted just before half-time due to an injury, but Madrid said the injury did not appear to be serious.
Other results
Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simon saved a penalty and made several other important stops to help ninth-placed Athletic Bilbao win 1-0 at home to mid-table Osasuna.
Mallorca drew 1-1 with Valencia.
5th place Real Betis defeated 11th place Girona 3-2 with Rodrigo Riquelme’s winning goal in the 80th minute.
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