Real Madrid visits Deportivo Alavés at Estádio Mendizorroza, in Vitoria-Gasteiz, for the 16th round of LaLiga 2025/26, in a match held at 9pm (Spanish local time) this Sunday. Kylian Mbappé scored the goal that put the visitors 1-0 up in the 23rd minute of the first half, after receiving a precise assist from Jude Bellingham. The game continues in progress, with the Whites controlling the initial actions and seeking to widen the gap.
The team led by Xabi Alonso arrives at the clash needing a victory to stay in the fight for the title, occupying second place in the table. Alavés, in turn, is in 12th place and is trying to surprise at home, where it has shown strength throughout the season. The duel highlights Real Madrid’s star attack, with Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo on the field.
The home team started with moderate pressure, but Real Madrid dominated possession of the ball in the first minutes. Mbappé’s goal came in a quick play, with the Frenchman finishing with his right foot after a through ball.
Starting team lineups
Deportivo Alavés enters the field with Antonio Sivera in goal, a defense formed by Jonny Otto, Nahuel Tenaglia, Jon Pacheco and Victor Parada. In the middle, Antonio Blanco acts as a midfielder, with Pablo Ibáñez, Denis Suárez, Calebe and Abderrahman Rebbach supporting the attack led by Lucas Boyé. Coach Eduardo Coudet opts for a 4-1-4-1 formation, prioritizing defensive solidity and quick counterattacks.
Real Madrid, under the command of Xabi Alonso, lines up Thibaut Courtois in goal, with Federico Valverde on the right flank, Raúl Asencio and The midfield features Aurélien Tchouaméni, Arda Güler and Jude Bellingham, while the offensive trio is made up of Rodrygo, The formation reflects the search for dominance in the middle and speed on the wings.
Both lineups show adjustments due to injuries and suspensions, with young players from the academy gaining space in the visiting team.
Main moves up to 31 minutes
The game started balanced, with Alavés trying to explore the sides.
- 00′: Bola rolls into Mendizorroza, with Real Madrid kicking off.
- 01′:
- 04′: Mbappé shoots from the edge of the area with his left leg, the ball passes dangerously and results in a corner for Real Madrid.
- 05′: Victor Parada receives a yellow card for a harsh foul on Valverde.
- 07′: Mbappé advances from the left and releases a bomb that scrapes Sivera’s left post.
- 11′: Valverde launches Rodrygo into the area, who crosses the ball and almost scores a beautiful goal.
- 23′: Gol do Real Madrid! Bellingham makes a brilliant pass, Mbappé dominates and shoots hard with his right foot into the top corner.
- 26′: Mbappé shoots from outside, ball deflects and becomes a corner; subsequently, Bellingham scores, but the goal is disallowed due to a touch on the arm.
- 30′: Vinícius Júnior commits a hard foul on Blanco.
Real Madrid maintains superiority in submissions so far.
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Home domain of Real Madrid
Real Madrid started the match imposing its pace, with high possession of the ball and pressure on the opponent’s exit. The visitors recorded a greater number of shots in the first 31 minutes, exploiting the speed of Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior on the wings. Bellingham acts as a central player in the middle, distributing precise passes and attacking with danger.
Alavés, despite being organized defensively, faces difficulties in playing. Rebbach and Boyé try to explore counterattacks, but the Merengue defense, led by Rüdiger and Asencio, neutralizes the attacks. Mbappé’s goal reflects the efficiency of the visiting attack in quick transitions.
The match remains intense, with Real Madrid looking for the second goal to consolidate the partial advantage.
Alavés’s Defensive Challenges
The Alavés defense works under constant pressure in the opening minutes. Jon Pacheco and Tenaglia commit tactical fouls to stop advances, while Parada already has an early yellow card. Sivera defends well against dangerous arrivals, but the home team needs to adjust its marking in the middle to contain Bellingham and Güler.
Coach Coudet advises greater compression, aiming to exploit errors in the opponent’s ball release. Até After 31 minutes, Alavés recorded few shots on goal, prioritizing containment. The team seeks balance to react during the first half.
The confrontation highlights the difference in technical quality, but the home factor can influence if Alavés grows.
Mbappé individual highlight
Kylian Mbappé demonstrates a high level from the opening whistle, actively participating in offensive plays. The Frenchman finished dangerously on multiple occasions, culminating in a great goal in the 23rd minute. Sua speed and precision in the right-footed shot unbalance the opposing defense.
Mbappé combines well with Bellingham and Vinícius, forming a fast and creative trio. Sua’s presence increases the constant threat to Sivera’s goal. The striker is looking for more goals to consolidate Real Madrid’s partial leadership.
The performance reinforces his importance in the Xabi Alonso scheme this season.
Ball possession and partial statistics
Real Madrid dominates ball possession in the first 31 minutes, exceeding 60% on average. Visitors record more corners and shots, reflecting territorial control. Alavés bets on low blocking and quick exits, but allows spaces in the middle.
Initial statistics show Merengue superiority in passes completed and duels won in attack. The early yellow card for Parada limits the home team’s attacks on the left.
The match maintains a high tempo, with the potential for more goals as the first half continues.
Context of the round in LaLiga
The 16th round of LaLiga 2025/26 features balanced clashes, with Barcelona leading the table after recent victories. Real Madrid, in second place, needs to win to reduce the points difference. Alavés, in the intermediate zone, adds important points at home to avoid risks.
Other games in the round influence the classification, with teams like Atlético, Madrid and Villarreal competing for European positions. The duel in Mendizorroza closes the Sunday day, with attention focused on the Merengue reaction after recent stumbles.
The competition remains competitive, with a high average of goals per match this season.
Head-to-head history
Real Madrid and Alavés faced each other on several occasions in LaLiga, with the Whites’ historic dominance. The visitors have won most of the recent duels, including matches with elastic scores. Alavés are looking to repeat rare home victories against the Spanish giants.
Past meetings highlight goals from stars like Mbappé in previous seasons. The current clash maintains a tradition of open games, with a goal average above the league. The partial advantage reflects the visiting superiority pattern.
The history motivates Real Madrid to maintain the positive momentum at Mendizorroza.
The game continues in the first half, with Real Madrid leading 1-0 and looking to consolidate the result. Alavés adjusts positioning to seek a draw before the break. The match promises emotions until the final whistle.
