Mbappe makes scoring return to ease pressure on Alonso

MADRID — Kylian Mbappe scored on his return from injury on Sunday, leading Real Madrid to a 2-1 win at Alaves in the Spanish league to relieve some of the pressure on coach Xabi Alonso.

Rodrygo also scored as Madrid moved back within four points of leader Barcelona, which beat Osasuna 2-0 on Saturday.

Madrid had won only two of its last eight games in all competitions and was coming off a 2-1 home loss to Manchester City in the Champions League, prompting jeers from home fans at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

"We are together in this, we keep fighting in the good and the bad moments," Alonso said. "The team competed well today. We started well and came away with the three points. It's fundamental to be united, it's the only way to remain solid and improve day-to-day."

Mbappe, who missed Madrid's match against City on Wednesday because of a minor injury, scored his 26th goal of the season for Madrid in all competitions after a good run on the left, passing a defender before firing into the top corner from just inside the area in the 24th minute.

Alaves equalized through Carlos Vicente in a second-half breakaway, but Rodrygo put the visiting side ahead again from close range after a run and assist by Vinicius Junior.

It was Rodrygo's second goal of the season, after ending his nine-month scoring drought for Madrid with a goal against City last week.

Vinicius Junior hugged Alonso after the goal in a rare show of public support by the Brazilian toward the Madrid boss.

The gesture came after media reports said the coach had lost the locker room.

Alaves, which stayed in 12th place, was coming off a win against Sociedad.

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois earned his 200th victory in 310 appearances with Madrid since he arrived in 2018. Defender Antonio Rudiger played in his 100th Spanish league match with the club.

Alonso used 19-year-old Victor Valdepenas, from Madrid's "B" team, in the left-back position because of injuries to the regular starters.

Tight battle

After going into halftime a goal to the good, Los Blancos were dangerous again after the interval, with Alaves goalkeeper Antonio Sivera denying both Mbappe and Vinicius.

Real came to rue those misses when Vicente pulled Alaves level after 68 minutes.

The forward got in behind Rudiger, controlled former Madrid midfielder Antonio Blanco's chipped pass and whipped a shot past Courtois.

Eduardo Coudet's side almost took the lead when Vicente's low cross from the right was nudged wide by Toni Martinez, who was pushed off balance by pressure from Raul Asencio.

Instead, Madrid pulled back in front, with Vinicius breaking down the left and crossing for Rodrygo to finish from six yards out.

A tense Alonso celebrated wildly, knowing that his future could depend on the Brazilian's goal, after Spanish media reported that anything but a victory would likely cost him his position in Madrid dugout.

Vinicius had appeals for a penalty turned down, after he fell under a challenge from Nahuel Tenaglia, and Bellingham came close in stoppage time, as Madrid tried in vain to ease the nerves by putting the game to bed.

"I thought it was a clear penalty. Vini was going very fast, there was contact. It surprises me that it didn't go to VAR," said Alonso.

Agencies