Rodrygo Scrapes Real Madrid Win at Alavés (2–1)

Rodrygo scrapes Real Madrid win at Alavés as the Brazilian’s late tap-in sealed a tense 2–1 LaLiga victory at Mendizorrotza, easing pressure on Xabi Alonso after a difficult run of results.

Dek: Kylian Mbappé’s rocket and a late Rodrygo finish earned Real Madrid a nervy 2–1 victory away to Alavés on Sunday, December 14, 2025, easing pressure on Xabi Alonso and trimming Barça’s lead to four points. [1][2]

Rodrygo scrapes Real Madrid win at Alavés – Key Moments

• Result: Alavés 1–2 Real Madrid; scorers: Mbappé 24’, Carlos Vicente 68’, Rodrygo 76’. [2][3]
• Table context: Madrid stay 2nd, four points off leaders Barcelona after Matchday 16. [2]
• Turning point: Vini Jr.’s burst and low cross for Rodrygo’s winner ended the Brazilian’s long Liga drought. [1][2]
• Selection note: 19-year-old Víctor Valdepeñas debuted at left-back amid injuries/suspensions. [1][2]
• Ref narrative: Madrid felt aggrieved over a late no-penalty on Vinícius; referee Víctor García Verdura. [2]

Match/Context Essentials

Competition: LaLiga (2025/26)
Fixture/Result: Deportivo Alavés 1–2 Real Madrid
Date: Sunday, December 14, 2025 (local) — Madrid: 9:00 pm CET / UTC+1; Vitoria-Gasteiz: 9:00 pm CET / UTC+1
Venue/City: Mendizorrotza, Vitoria-Gasteiz
Referee: Víctor García Verdura [2]
Goals: Mbappé 24’ (RMA), Carlos Vicente 68’ (ALA), Rodrygo 76’ (RMA) [2]
Basic stats: Shots 13–6 RMA; On target 6–2 RMA; Possession 47.9% RMA–52.1% ALA; Corners 7–5 RMA; Yellows 1 RMA–3 ALA. [4]

Starting XIs

• Alavés (4-1-4-1): Sivera; Parada, Pacheco, Tenaglia, Jonny; Blanco; Rebbach, D. Suárez, Ibáñez, Calebe; Boyé. Key subs: Carlos Vicente (scored), Toni Martínez, others. [3]
• Real Madrid (listed 4-4-2 on ESPN): Courtois; Valdepeñas, Rüdiger, Raúl Asencio, Valverde; Tchouaméni, Güler, Bellingham; Rodrygo; Mbappé, Vinícius Jr. Key subs: Brahim Díaz, Dean Huijsen, Gonzalo García, Franco Mastantuono. [2][3]

Notes: Some substitution minutes/cards not published at source time; marked as unknown. We’ll update if official reports add them. [2][3]

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Rodrygo scrapes Real Madrid win at Alavés | LaLiga Report

Real Madrid needed grit more than gloss at Mendizorrotza, and Rodrygo supplied it. After a week dominated by speculation over Xabi Alonso’s future, Los Blancos edged Alavés 2–1 thanks to Kylian Mbappé’s first-half strike and Rodrygo’s second-half winner on December 14, 2025. The result keeps Madrid second, four points behind leaders Barcelona, and—at least for now—turns down the volume on talk shows dissecting Alonso’s job security. [1][2]

Madrid’s start was energetic if imprecise. Mbappé twice went close early—despite visible knee discomfort—before the breakthrough arrived. Jude Bellingham drove through midfield and fed Mbappé, who whipped a vicious right-footer into the top-right corner in the 24th minute. It was his 17th league goal of the campaign, a punctuation mark that felt cathartic after the midweek Champions League setback. Moments later, Bellingham saw a finish chalked off for handball, and Alavés grew into the contest. [1][2]

At 1–0, the game teetered. Thibaut Courtois made a brave, not-entirely-orthodox stop—right in the face—to deny Pablo Ibáñez just before the interval. After halftime, Antonio Sivera produced a double save—first from Mbappé and then from Vinícius Júnior—to keep Madrid within reach. Those interventions set the stage for a sticky middle third that Madrid struggled to control. [1][2][4]

The equaliser felt inevitable as Alavés started to hit the spaces behind Madrid’s backline. In the 68th minute, Carlos Vicente timed his run perfectly, cushioning Antonio Blanco’s clipped pass before beating Courtois. A VAR check confirmed the goal. With Mendizorrotza roaring and Madrid’s formline (two wins in eight across competitions pre-kickoff) looming like a cloud, this could have spiraled. [1][2]

Instead, Alonso’s side found a release valve on the left. Vinícius Jr. isolated his man, burst into the box, and drilled a low ball across the six. Rodrygo, after a lean league run, arrived to tap home from close range in the 76th minute—a huge personal and collective moment. The Brazilian’s celebration with Alonso underlined the mood: unity over anxiety. [1][2]

From there, it was nervy but resolute. Madrid wanted a penalty when Vinícius went down late—waved away on the pitch and not given by VAR—and Brahim Díaz fizzed into the side netting in stoppage time. Final whistle: 2–1 and a long exhale from a traveling support that has seen too many tightrope away days of late. [1][2]

Tactically, Alonso leaned into pragmatism. With both natural left-backs Álvaro Carreras and Fran García suspended and Ferland Mendy out, Víctor Valdepeñas (19) debuted on the flank, while Raúl Asencio partnered Antonio Rüdiger centrally. Fede Valverde’s deployment as the nominal right-back provided ball-progression insurance in early build-up, allowing Arda Güler to float inside and combine with Bellingham between Alavés’s lines. It wasn’t always fluid, but it kept Madrid’s structure sound enough to weather Alavés’s best spell. [1][2][3]

Numbers support the “dogfight” read rather than a cruise: Madrid led 13–6 in shots and 6–2 on target, but trailed 52–48 in possession, a function of Alavés’s mid-game territorial push and Madrid’s willingness to counter. Seven corners to five also reflect Madrid’s sharper cutting edge in key moments. [4]

Individually, Mbappé was the game’s best player for an hour—vertical threat, relentless movement, the opener, and a constant outlet to reset field position. Rodrygo’s winner matters beyond the three points; confidence for a streaky scorer can flip quickly, and Madrid need his goals to diversify beyond the Mbappé-Bellingham axis. Bellingham, meanwhile, mixed industry with incision: one assist, one chalked-off finish, and several tempo-setting sequences under pressure. [1][2]

Alavés deserve credit for exploiting Madrid’s high line and for the calculated use of Vicente and Toni Martínez to stress the channels. Antonio Blanco’s assist was the kind that stings a former club—smart, composed, and punched into the gap Madrid don’t always protect behind their eights. [1][2]

As for the bigger picture, a win doesn’t erase all concerns. Madrid are still seeking rhythm after a choppy stretch, and the upcoming fixtures (Cup, then Sevilla) demand sharper game control and less self-inflicted jeopardy. But at Mendizorrotza, when the season could have tilted, Madrid found just enough resilience—and Rodrygo found his moment. [1][2][4]

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FAQs

Did Real Madrid deserve the win on the balance of chances?

Madrid created the clearer looks (13–6 shots; 6–2 on target) and produced two high-quality goals in open play, albeit while conceding territory for stretches. [4]

Who stood out for Madrid?

Mbappé (goal, constant outlet), Bellingham (assist, control), and Rodrygo (match-winner). Courtois also delivered a key pre-halftime save. [1][2]

Was there controversy?

Madrid appealed for a late penalty on Vinícius Jr. Referee Víctor García Verdura and VAR did not award it. [2]

Why the makeshift left-back?

Suspensions/injuries forced a reshuffle; debutant Víctor Valdepeñas started on the left and held up well under pressure. [1][2]

What does the result mean in the table?

Madrid remain 2nd, four points behind Barcelona heading into the final round before the winter break. [2]

References

[1] “Rodrygo scrapes Real Madrid win at Alaves,” AFP via Citizen Digital (Published Dec 15, 2025 EAT). Citizen Digital
[2] “Victory at Mendizorroza — Alavés 1–2 Real Madrid,” Real Madrid official site (News, Dec 14, 2025; line-up note; referee/VAR mention). Real Madrid CF | Web Oficial
[3] “Alavés 1–2 Real Madrid — Lineups/Report,” ESPN (Updated Dec 14, 2025). ESPN.com+1
[4] “Alavés 1–2 Real Madrid — Team Stats,” ESPN (Shots, possession, corners, cards). ESPN.com