Real Madrid returned to winning ways in La Liga with a 2–1 victory over Deportivo Alavés, yet their position in the title race remains challenging. Prior to Tuesday night’s fixture, Madrid trailed their long-standing rivals FC Barcelona by nine points, a deficit that underlines the scale of the task ahead in the closing stages of the season.
With only a limited number of matches remaining, Madrid must not only secure victories in their own fixtures but also rely on Barcelona dropping points. However, Barcelona still have seven matches to play, making a nine-point swing difficult to envisage. Consequently, Madrid’s prospects depend both on maintaining consistency and on results elsewhere.
The win over Alavés marked a return to form after two matches without victory in the league. It also reduced the points gap at the top of the table from nine to six, albeit temporarily, as Barcelona still had a game in hand at the time. The updated standings are as follows:
| Team | Matches Played | Points |
|---|---|---|
| FC Barcelona | 31 | 79 |
| Real Madrid | 32 | 73 |
Barcelona were scheduled to face Celta Vigo later, with a win potentially restoring their nine-point advantage over Madrid.
At the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid took the lead in the first half through Kylian Mbappé, who scored his 24th league goal of the season. In the 30th minute, his shot deflected off an opposing defender before finding the net. Early in the second half, Vinícius Júnior doubled the advantage with a powerful long-range effort.
Alavés reduced the deficit in added time through Toni Martínez, but the goal did not alter the outcome.
Following the match, Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa outlined the team’s immediate objectives: “We now have six matches ahead of us. The next one comes in three days. There is only one goal: to win all of them. As a team, that is what we have set ourselves.”
Arbeloa also addressed ongoing discussion regarding his future at the club, stating that he is not focused on personal considerations: “I do not think much about the risks for me personally. I prioritise what is important for Real Madrid.”
Madrid’s situation has been further complicated by their elimination from the UEFA Champions League at the quarter-final stage last week. As a result, the club faces the possibility of finishing a second consecutive season without a major trophy. In this context, reclaiming the league title—despite the current deficit—would represent a significant outcome.
Looking ahead, Madrid are scheduled to play their next La Liga fixture on Friday against Real Betis. The match, set to kick off at 1:00 am Bangladesh time, is another crucial opportunity for the team to maintain pressure in the title race.