Real Madrid 2-1 Deportivo Alaves Player Ratings: Kylian Mbappe 8.5/10 Ends Scoring Drought as Real Madrid Bounce Back From Champions League Exit Against Alaves

Real Madrid needed a response, and against a resilient Alaves side that had lost just once in their previous four LaLiga outings, it was never going to be straightforward. The Estadio Santiago Bernabéu crowd made their frustration known from the first whistle, whistling Vinicius repeatedly as the hosts struggled to find a way through a well-drilled five-man Deportivo Alavés defence that refused to yield in the opening exchanges. Militao struck the bar before limping off injured, and for long spells, Madrid lacked the cutting edge their situation demanded.

Mbappe broke the deadlock in the 30th minute, his shot deflecting off Jonny and looping past a rooted Sivera to end a four-game La Liga drought, before Vinicius silenced his critics in the 50th minute with a thunderous long-range strike into the bottom-left corner that prompted an almost apologetic celebration from the Brazilian.

Martinez threatened repeatedly throughout and finally grabbed a deserved consolation in the 90th minute, his deft near-post flick giving Alaves a goal their determined and enterprising display had merited, but it arrived too late to deny Madrid three crucial points that cut Barcelona's lead to six. The result was built on individual quality rather than collective brilliance, but in a season where Real Madrid have been stripped of their Champions League crown, three points at the Bernabeu kept alive the faintest of title hopes ahead of El Clasico. Here are Sportsdunia's Real Madrid vs Deportivo Alaves player ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Mbappe's 30th-minute goal was as much about timing as quality, ending a four-game LaLiga drought at the most critical moment of the season, and giving the Bernabeu the spark it desperately needed to lift a subdued atmosphere that had threatened to undermine the entire evening.
• Vinicius' stunning long-range strike in the 50th minute was the defining moment of the match, a vicious, precisely struck effort into the bottom-left corner that not only sealed the points but appeared to begin the process of reconciliation between the Brazilian and a Bernabeu crowd that had whistled him throughout the opening exchanges.
• Alaves were far from overmatched, Martinez alone could have scored four goals on the night, and their xG of 2.11 against Madrid's 1.63 underlined that Sanchez Flores' side deserved far more than a single consolation goal from a contest they competed in bravely and with genuine quality.

Real Madrid Player Ratings vs Deportivo Alaves

Check out the Real Madrid Player Ratings vs Deportivo Alaves.

Goalkeeper

Andriy Lunin - 7.0: A steady presence between the sticks for Madrid. He made four saves, a couple of which were crucial to maintaining the lead. We noticed his confidence in claiming high balls, and while his distribution wasn't perfect, it was effective enough. He couldn't have done much about the goal conceded, it was a well-worked Alavés attack.

Defenders

Trent Alexander-Arnold - 7.5: Exactly what you'd expect from him. A constant creative outlet on the right flank, whipping in six crosses and always looking to get forward. His defensive duties were minimal for most of his time on the pitch. He was substituted just after the hour mark, likely to manage his minutes.

Dean Huijsen - 8.0: An absolute colossus at the heart of the defense. From our perspective, he was one of Madrid's most important players. He registered a staggering 11 clearances and won 7 of his 10 duels. His reading of the game was impeccable, and he exuded a calmness that spread through the backline.

Álvaro Carreras - 7.0: A very busy night for the fullback, who racked up 100 touches. He was defensively robust, winning an impressive nine duels. However, he was a little careless in possession at times, losing the ball on 11 occasions which put his team under unnecessary pressure.

Éder Militão - 7.0: Looked commanding before his unfortunate injury. He was strong in the tackle and made several important clearances. He even rattled the woodwork with a powerful effort. It was a real shame to see him forced off just before the halftime whistle.

Midfielders

Federico Valverde - 7.5: The captain led by example with a typically energetic, all-action display. He covered every blade of grass, broke up play, and drove his team forward. His beautiful assist for Vinicius' goal was the cherry on top of a fantastic performance.

Aurélien Tchouaméni - 6.5: A bit of a mixed performance from the Frenchman. He picked up a yellow card and seemed to be walking a tightrope. While he made some key interceptions, he also lost possession cheaply, which is uncharacteristic for him. Substituted after 63 minutes.

Arda Güler - 8.0: What a talent. The youngster was a joy to watch, pulling the strings in midfield. His assist for Mbappé's goal was a moment of pure vision and quality. He created three chances in total and played with a swagger that belied his years before being subbed off.

Jude Bellingham - 7.0: Not his most spectacular game, but he was still incredibly effective. He was a dominant physical presence in the middle of the park, winning his battles and keeping the play ticking over. We felt his substitution before the hour was a move to preserve his energy for future games.

Forwards

Kylian Mbappé - 8.5: A world-class performance and our Man of the Match. His goal was a thing of beauty, and his movement and dribbling caused chaos all night. He had seven shots and was a constant threat, always looking to get in behind. On another night, he could have had a hat-trick.

Vinicius Junior - 8.5: Simply electric. He tormented the Alavés defense with his pace and trickery, creating five chances for his teammates. He took his goal brilliantly, a powerful strike that left the keeper with no chance. An absolutely top-tier performance.

Substitutes

Antonio Rüdiger - 6.5: Came on for the injured Militão and did a solid job. Wasn't really put under immense pressure but was reliable when called upon.

Brahim Díaz - 6.5: Injected some pace and energy but couldn't find a decisive moment.

Franco Mastantuono - 6.0: A good experience for the young player, who got some valuable minutes but missed a clear-cut chance.

Eduardo Camavinga - 6.5: Brought his usual dynamism to the midfield and helped see out the game.

Dani Carvajal - 6.5: Slotted in seamlessly at right-back for the final half-hour.

Manager

Á. Arbeloa Coca - 7.0: He got the three points, which is the most important thing. His team was devastating in attack but looked a bit vulnerable at the back, which he'll want to address. His substitutions were timely and logical, managing his squad well.

Deportivo Alaves Player Ratings vs Real Madrid

Here are the Deportivo Alaves Player Ratings vs Real Madrid.

Goalkeeper

Antonio Sivera - 6.5: He was a busy man and made five saves, preventing a much larger margin of defeat. He couldn't be faulted for either of Madrid's goals. What stood out to us, however, was his poor distribution, which repeatedly put his team on the back foot.

Defenders

Youssef Enríquez - 6.0: It was a difficult evening for the defender, who had the unenviable task of dealing with Madrid's fluid attack. He struggled to contain the threat and was eventually substituted. A tough learning experience.

Nahuel Tenaglia - 7.5: A warrior's performance. He threw his body on the line, making six clearances and blocking four shots, including one heroic clearance off the line. He fought relentlessly for the badge and can hold his head high.

Jonny Otto - 6.5: Had his moments, making some crucial tackles and interceptions. However, he was caught out by Madrid's quick interchanges on a few occasions. A solid, if unspectacular, outing.

Victor Parada - 7.0: A really strong defensive display. He won his duels and was a commanding presence in the air. He was so unlucky not to score, with his powerful header cannoning off the post late in the game. A very good showing.

Ángel Pérez - 6.0: A very strange and chaotic performance. He was a surprisingly creative force, creating four chances from defense. But the flip side was his carelessness, losing possession 24 times and picking up a booking. A truly mixed bag.

Midfielders

Antonio Blanco - 6.5: The captain put in a real shift in the engine room. His passing was crisp and accurate, and he worked tirelessly to break up Madrid's rhythm. He led by example before being substituted in the final 15 minutes.

Denis Suárez - 6.0: A disappointing evening for a player of his quality. He struggled to make any real impact on the game and made an error that led to a Madrid shot. He was substituted before the hour mark, and from our perspective, it was the right call.

Jon Guridi - 6.0: Much like his midfield partner, he had a quiet game. He put in the effort defensively but offered little going forward. The game largely passed him by before he was taken off.

Forwards

Toni Martínez - 8.0: Without a doubt, Alavés's best player on the pitch and the highest-rated player for his team. He was a constant nuisance, scoring their goal, hitting the post, and forcing saves from the keeper. A fantastic, all-action striker's performance; he deserved more from the game.

Lucas Boyé - 5.5: A night to forget. He was completely isolated and ineffective up front. He lost possession 16 times and won just a quarter of his duels. It just wasn't his day, and his frustration was evident.

Substitutes

Carles Aleñá - 6.5: Added a bit more craft and guile to the midfield when he came on.

Ibrahim Diabate - 6.5: Looked energetic and set up a great chance for Martínez with his direct running.

Calebe - 6.0: Didn't have enough time to make a significant impact on the proceedings.

Ander Guevara - 6.0: Brought on late to add some fresh legs in midfield.

Manager

E. Sánchez Flores - 7.0: His game plan was nearly perfect. His team was well-organized, disciplined, and showed immense heart to fight back. His substitutions were positive and aimed to get back into the match. He'll be frustrated but proud of his team's display.

Man of the Match

Kylian Mbappé was the man of the match.

Worst Performer

Lucas Boyé was the worst performer.