Alaves 0-1 Real Madrid: Player ratings as horror Mbappe tackle fails to derail champions
- Eduardo Camavinga scored what turned out to be Real Madrid winner
- Kylian Mbappe received the first red card of his career in La Liga
- Madrid move four points behind Barcelona and extend advantage over Atletico
Real Madrid eked out a 1-0 win away to relegation-battling Alaves on Sunday afternoon despite Kylian Mbappe's first-half dismissal.
At the end of what Carlo Ancelotti called a "difficult week", a league loss to Valencia compounded by a Champions League humbling against Arsenal, the Real Madrid manager called for a performance to lift the spirits. "I want to see a Madrid that is capable of getting back our good feelings," the Italian challenged his players.
Real Madrid emerged with three points from Mendizorroza but not too many more "good feelings" after a fractious and fiery encounter.
Eduardo Camavinga broke the deadlock with a crisp drive from the edge of the box after exchanging passes with Federico Valverde. The goalscoring Frenchman had been sent off against Arsenal yet it was his lofty compatriot, Mbappe, who was handed his marching orders on Sunday.
Madrid's in-form No 9 had been denied a foul and went angrily chasing after the opposition, thrusting the underside of his right boot into Antonio Blanco's shin in the 38th minute. Even if Mbappe had gotten near the ball - which he didn't - that violent action would have had a better chance of puncturing the white orb rather than winning possession.
The visitors huddled into battle mode for the second half, ceding the ball and any attacking initiative to a side which started the day just one point above La Liga's relegation zone.
Madrid didn't have their first shot of the second half until Alaves were reduced to ten men themselves. Manuel Sanchez didn't apply the same force as Mbappe but sunk his studs into Vinicius Junior's calf all the same to earn a red card in the 70th minute.
Victory, however scratchy and uncertain, took Madrid back to four points behind Barcelona at La Liga's summit. The pair clash in what could prove to be a title decider on the second weekend of May and meet in this month's Copa del Rey final which Mbappe could miss depending on the severity of his ban.
Real Madrid player ratings (4-3-3)
Player | Ratings |
|---|---|
GK: Thibaut Courtois | 8.4/10 |
RB: Lucas Vazquez | 7.3/10 |
CB: Raul Asencio | 6.8/10 |
CB: Antonio Rudiger | 7.2/10 |
LB: Fran Garcia | 6.8/10 |
CM: Federico Valverde | 7.6/10 |
CM: Aurelien Tchouameni | 7.8/10 |
CM: Eduardo Camavinga | 8.7/10 |
RW: Arda Guler | 6.7/10 |
ST: Kylian Mbappe | 5.0/10 |
LW: Rodrygo | 7.4/10 |
SUB: Vinicius Junior (62' for Rodrygo) | 6.7/10 |
SUB: Jude Bellingham (63' for Guler) | 6.8/10 |
SUB: Brahim Diaz (77' for Garcia) | 6.3/10 |
SUB: Dani Ceballos (90' for Valverde) | N/A |
Subs not used: Fran Gonzalez (GK), Sergio Mestre, David Alaba, Jesus Vallejo, Luka Modric, Brahim Diaz, Endrick.
Player of the match - Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid)
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