Mbappe strikes for Real Madrid

MADRID — Kylian Mbappe struck for the fourth consecutive game as Real Madrid survived a late scare to beat Alaves, 3-2, in La Liga on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila).

Real Madrid, second, cut the gap on Barcelona to one point before the leaders host Getafe on Wednesday.

Madrid dismantled Alaves with goals from Lucas Vazquez, Mbappe and Rodrygo before a late salvo from the visitors rocked Carlo Ancelotti's side.

Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe controls the ball during the Spanish league football match between Real Madrid CF and Deportivo Alaves at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on Sept. 24, 2024. AFP PHOTO

Carlos Protesoni and Kike Garcia scored two goals in two minutes in the final stages but Madrid held on.

«This is football, you can think the game has finished, [then there's] a small slip and they score the first, they get confidence and you lose it, this is what happens,» Ancelotti told reporters.

«Obviously, we don't want this to happen, but it can.

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»We have to highlight that for an hour the team played well and that gives us confidence."

Los Blancos overpowered Alaves from the start in what was a hugely uneven contest for most of the game despite the Basque side's solid start to the season.

Ancelotti brought Vinicius Junior back into the starting lineup and gave Vazquez a rare start, and the pair combined inside the first minute.

The Brazilian winger surged in from the left flank and cut the ball back for a simple finish from Vazquez.

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Ancelotti said Monday he wanted more intensity at the outset of matches after Madrid had scored just one first-half goal this season in La Liga or the Champions League, and his demand was swiftly met.

Los Blancos dominated with Alaves barely reaching Thibaut Courtois' penalty box.

Despite that, Madrid's second goal only came five minutes before the interval, when Mbappe and Jude Bellingham combined beautifully.

France captain Mbappe conjured a clever flicked pass to the England international, who completed a one-two by sending his teammate through on goal. AFP

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