Kylian Mbappé red card overshadows Real Madrid win over Alavés

Updated: Apr 13, 2025, 01:59 pm

Defending champions Real Madrid secured a nervy 1-0 win at relegation-threatened Alavés in LaLiga on Sunday after a reckless foul by Kylian Mbappé had them reduced to 10 men late in the first half.

Eduardo Camavinga gave Madrid the lead in the 34th minute, scoring from outside the box with a brilliant curled shot, after an earlier goal by Raúl Asencio was ruled out following a VAR check.

Mbappé's violent tackle on Alavés midfielder Antonio Blanco left Madrid a man down before halftime. The player count, however, was level in the second half after Vinícius Júnior was subjected to a similar foul by Manu Sánchez, who also was sent off.

Second-placed Madrid have 66 points from 31 games and are four points behind leaders Barcelona, who edged Leganes 1-0 on Saturday.

Madrid, who on Tuesday were handed a shock 3-0 loss at Arsenal in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal, have struggled in all competitions this month as they still try to cut the gap to Barça.

They were without suspended manager Carlo Ancelotti after the Italian saw his fifth yellow card in the loss to Valencia last weekend. He watched from the stands as Madrid were managed by his son and assistant coach Davide Ancelotti.

Real Madrid navigated Kylian Mbappé's red card to earn a vital three points in the LaLiga title race on Sunday.
ANDER GILLENEA/AFP via Getty Images

With Spain's national team coach Luis de la Fuente present, defender Asencio thought he put Madrid in front after 19 minutes, nodding home from a corner.

His goal was chalked off after a VAR review showed that Asencio supported himself on an Alavés defender when scoring, while Antonio Rudiger knocked down goalkeeper Jesús Owono seconds prior in the same play.

Camavinga gave Real the lead 15 minutes later, scoring inside the left post after a smart one-two with Federico Valverde.

It was the midfielder's first league goal since March 2022.

But things got tricky for the visitors in the 38th minute when Mbappé was shown a straight red for taking down Blanco as the referee overturned his initial decision of booking him with a yellow after consulting with VAR.

Alavés managed to swing possession in their favour after the restart, and forward Carlos Martín put Thibaut Courtois to work with his low strike from outside the area during a threatening spell by the hosts.

It was, however, 10 vs.10 after Alaves defender Sanchez also saw red for fouling Vinícius, and Owono denied Jude Bellingham late on from close range.