Mbappe Steals the Show as Real Madrid Edge Alaves, Saving Coach Alonso

Kylian Mbappe's superb opener and Rodrygo's late goal earned Real Madrid a tense 2-1 win at Alaves in La Liga on Sunday, potentially keeping coach Xabi Alonso in his job. The victory, Madrid's third in the last nine games across all competitions, reeled league leaders Barcelona's advantage back to four points. The win was a much-needed boost for Real Madrid, who had suffered a home defeat by Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday. Spanish media had reported that anything but a victory would cost Alonso his position, and the pressure was mounting on the coach. However, Mbappe's goal in the 22nd minute gave Real Madrid the lead, and although Alaves equalized through Luis Rioja in the 65th minute, Rodrygo's goal in the 85th minute sealed the win for the visitors. Mbappe's performance was a highlight of the game, and he celebrated his goal with teammate Vinicius Junior. "It was a great team effort, and we're happy to get the three points," Mbappe said in a post-match interview. "We knew it wouldn't be easy, but we managed to come out on top." The win was a crucial one for Real Madrid, who had been struggling in recent weeks. The team had lost three of their last five games, and the pressure was mounting on Alonso. However, this victory will give the team a much-needed boost, and they will look to build on it in their next game. Real Madrid's victory was also significant in the context of the La Liga title race. Barcelona, who had been leading the league by seven points just a few weeks ago, now have a four-point advantage over their rivals. However, Real Madrid will look to close the gap in their next game, and the title race is set to go down to the wire. The win was a testament to the team's resilience and determination, and it will give them a much-needed confidence boost. As for Alonso, the victory will give him a stay of execution, but the pressure will still be on him to deliver results in the coming weeks.