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By Kevin Hand and James Dodd
Published On 21 Apr 2026

This page is now closed, but a summary of the game is available below, and you can click here for our full match report. Thanks for joining us at Al Jazeera Sport.

24 Apr 2026 - 16:30
 (16:30 GMT)

Last up for Real Madrid

Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior each scored as Real Madrid ended a four-game winless streak by defeating Alaves 2-1 on Tuesday to move closer to Spanish league leader Barcelona.

It was Madrid’s first game since it was eliminated by Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals of the Champions League. Madrid lost 2-1 at home and 4-3 in Germany in the second leg. The team’s last two Spanish league matches had been a 1-1 home draw against Girona and a 2-1 loss at Mallorca.

It was a slow start for Madrid on Tuesday, and the crowd at the Bernabeu looked anxious as Alaves had a few scoring chances early. Part of the fans jeered as the team struggled. There were some boos after the final whistle, as well as after Alaves scored late.

Mbappe broke the deadlock in the 30th minute with a shot that deflected off an Alaves defender and fooled goalkeeper Antonio Sivera. Mbappe, the league’s leading scorer, with 24 goals, had not found the net in a league game since February.

Vinicius added to Madrid’s lead with a long-range strike in the 50th. The Brazil forward had not scored in his last six games between club and country.

Click here to review our live coverage of the game.

21 Apr 2026 - 22:29
 (22:29 GMT)

That’s a wrap

Thanks for following our live coverage of Real Madrid 2-1 Alaves here this evening.

You can read all about it here, as Real Madrid cut Barcelona’s lead at the top to six points in the race to be crowned La Liga Champions.

Join us tomorrow for some Premier League action as Burnley host Manchester City.

21 Apr 2026 - 22:22
 (22:22 GMT)

Still to come on Al Jazeera sport

We’ve got plenty of live sport coming your way on Al Jazeera this week, so make sure you stick with us.

On Wednesday night, Manchester City travel to relegation-threatened Burnley in the Premier League, knowing that a big win will see them leapfrog Arsenal at the top of the league table.

Then, on Friday, we head to La Cartuja, as Real Madrid travel to Seville to face Real Betis in one of Spanish football’s best fixtures.

You don’t want to miss either of these two games, and we’ve got you covered.

21 Apr 2026 - 22:12
 (22:12 GMT)

Read all about it: Our Real Madrid-Alaves match report is live

Click here to read our full match report following the match in Madrid.

21 Apr 2026 - 22:06
 (22:06 GMT)

Stat attack – Real Madrid

21 Apr 2026 - 21:57
 (21:57 GMT)

Another huge game for Alaves

Up next for Alaves is another pivotal clash in their bid to avoid relegation to the Segunda Division.

Sitting on 33 points after 32 matches, Alaves now welcome fellow relegation battlers, Mallorca, to Mendizorrotza on Saturday.

Mallorca sit on 35 points after their 1-1 home draw with Valencia on Tuesday, and this game could have huge ramifications on the relegation zone.

Alaves will need to be wary of Mallorca striker Vedat Muriqi, too, given the Kosovar currently sits second behind Kylian Mbappe (24) in the race for the Pichichi this season, having scored 21 goals!

21 Apr 2026 - 21:51
 (21:51 GMT)

Up next for Real Madrid

Next up for Alvaro Arbeloa and his Real Madrid side is one of Spanish football’s best fixtures: Real Betis vs Real Madrid on Friday night – a game that always produces something special.

Real Madrid travel to Andalucia and to Seville, where they’ll face Betis at a packed-out La Cartuja stadium.

Once again, Madrid have the advantage of playing before Barcelona, so they’ll be hoping to further eat into Barca’s lead; however, they come up against a Real Betis side gunning to secure European football next season.

21 Apr 2026 - 21:46
 (21:46 GMT)

Alaves remain in sticky situation

Many thought this would be a walkover for Real Madrid, but Alaves fought hard at the Santiago Bernabeu tonight.

Sadly, though, that doesn’t change the fact that Quique Sanchez Flores’s side remain just ONE point outside the drop zone in La Liga and could find themselves sat in 18th place come the end of the round.

Elche currently occupy 18th position, but should they get a result against Atletico Madrid tomorrow, then Alaves will drop into the bottom three.

Full Time: Real Madrid 2-1 Alaves

21 Apr 2026 - 21:41
 (21:41 GMT)

Real Madrid close the gap

So Real Madrid have cut Barcelona’s lead at the top down to six points, although the league leaders are yet to play this round.

No side has ever clawed back a nine-point lead at this stage of the season to win La Liga, but Real Madrid have done their part tonight thanks to goals from Mbappe and Vinicius Jr.

All they need now is for Barca to drop points at home to Celta Vigo tomorrow at Camp Nou, something that isn’t necessarily out of the question.

Full Time: Real Madrid 2-1 Alaves

21 Apr 2026 - 21:35
 (21:35 GMT)

Full Time! Real Madrid win 2-1

The referee blows the full-time whistle at the Santiago Bernabeu, and Real Madrid have secured the victory.

Kylian Mbappe’s first-half deflected effort made it 1-0, before Vinicius Jr then doubled their lead in the second half with an excellent finish.

Alaves had their chances and finally took one when Martinez flicked home with what was almost the last kick of the game, but Madrid were good value for their win.

Full Time: Real Madrid 2-1 Alaves

21 Apr 2026 - 21:32
 (21:32 GMT)

GOAL! Hang on, Alaves make it 2-1

It’s almost certainly too late to change the result, but Martinez finally has his goal at the Bernabeu as he flicks Guevara’s strike from the edge of the area past Lunin and into the net to make it 2-1.

90+2 mins: Real Madrid 2-1 Alaves

21 Apr 2026 - 21:31
 (21:31 GMT)

A late chance to make it 3-0

Vinicius Jr looks to add his second and Real Madrid’s third as he goes dancing into the Alaves box; however, the Brazilian sends his effort high over the bar from a tight angle.

That should be that, here at the Santiago Bernabeu.

90+1 mins: Real Madrid 2-0 Alaves

21 Apr 2026 - 21:29
 (21:29 GMT)

Three minutes added on

The fourth official has indicated there will be three minutes of additional time.

90 mins: Real Madrid 2-0 Alaves

21 Apr 2026 - 21:28
 (21:28 GMT)

Free kick in a dangerous area for Alaves

Perez causes more problems down the right and is brought down by Carreras deep inside Real Madrid territory.

The ball is played short and worked to the dangerous Martinez, who then lays it off to a teammate, but the ball ends up going out for another corner, which is then wasted.

87 mins: Real Madrid 2-0 Alaves

21 Apr 2026 - 21:25
 (21:25 GMT)

Another massive chance for Alaves

This time, it’s Alena who goes close as his effort from inside the box is deflected away for a corner by Huijsen.

The Alaves man wants a penalty, as Rudiger catches him late on the ankle in the follow-through, but nothing is given, and the corner is cleared away.

85 mins: Real Madrid 2-0 Alaves

21 Apr 2026 - 21:22
 (21:22 GMT)

Alaves hit the post

Another scare for Real Madrid as Guevara hits the post.

Martinez produces a brilliant scorpion kick to flick on Perez’s cross, and it finds its way to Guevara at the back post, but his header hits the woodwork and goes out for a goal kick.

A huge let-off for the home side.

82 mins: Real Madrid 2-0 Alaves

21 Apr 2026 - 21:19
 (21:19 GMT)

Good effort from Mastantuono

Now it’s Madrid who go close at the other end as Mbappe finds Mastantuono out on the right flank, and the Argentinian cuts into the box on his left foot and fires an effort narrowly over the angle of bar and post.

A decent attempt.

80 mins: Real Madrid 2-0 Alaves

Antonio Sivera of Deportivo Alaves saves a shot from Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid [Denis Doyle/Getty Images]
21 Apr 2026 - 21:16
 (21:16 GMT)

Big save from Lunin

A cheap giveaway from Rudiger sees the ball come straight back to the edge of the Madrid box, and Martinez lashes a powerful effort towards goal, which is beaten away by Lunin.

Sloppy from the home side, and Alaves were almost back in it.

78 mins: Real Madrid 2-0 Alaves

21 Apr 2026 - 21:13
 (21:13 GMT)

Another change for the visitors

Guevara comes on in place of captain Blanco in the Alaves engine room.

A last throw of the dice from Sanchez Flores.

73 mins: Real Madrid 2-0 Alaves

21 Apr 2026 - 21:10
 (21:10 GMT)

Chances for Alaves

Diabate hasn’t been on the pitch for very long, but he’s just drilled a vicious low effort wide of the far post.

Alaves did well to manoeuvre the ball around the edge of the Madrid box before Diabate attempted to apply the finish. Then Alena sent a low effort past the opposite post just 30 seconds later!

Signs of life from the opposition.

69 mins: Real Madrid 2-0 Alaves

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