It didn’t open up straight away
At the start, this looked like one of those games. Real Madrid had the ball, but Deportivo Alavés was set. Five at the back, three in midfield, not much space anywhere. Everything was in front of them. Madrid wasn’t struggling to reach the final third. They just weren’t finding a clean way through it.
A lot of it was just… moving them around
For a while, nothing really happened. The ball kept going wide, then back inside, then across again. It didn’t look dangerous, but it wasn’t pointless either. Alavés had to keep shifting. And when a team keeps moving like that, even if it’s only a little each time, small gaps start to show. Not big ones. Just enough. That’s all it takes sometimes.
The first goal came from that feeling
Around the half-hour mark, it finally broke. Kylian Mbappé got the goal, but it didn’t come out of nowhere. By then, Madrid had already made Alavés move side to side a few times.
The line was still there, but it wasn’t as tight as before. One quick action, a bit of space, and Mbappé doesn’t need much more than that.1–0, and suddenly the game looks different.
They didn’t lose control after scoring
This is where Madrid was quite smart. They didn’t start forcing things. The shape stayed balanced. There were still players behind the ball, still cover in midfield. So even when Alavés tried to clear or break, it didn’t really turn into anything serious. Madrid just kept playing.
Second goal, similar story
Early in the second half, it happened again. Vinícius Júnior made it 2–0, and if you look at it, it’s not that different from the first goal. The defence had already been moved. Not stretched completely, but just enough to create a moment. And at this level, that’s enough. It’s easy to focus on the final touch, but the work is usually done before that.
Alavés stayed in it, at least on the scoreboard
They didn’t fall apart. They kept their shape for most of the game and waited for something late. That came in stoppage time, when T. Martínez pulled one back to make it 2–1. But realistically, it didn’t change how the game had been played. Madrid had already taken their chances earlier.
It wasn’t about constant pressure
This wasn’t one of those games where chances kept coming. It was quieter than that. Madrid just picked the right moments. They moved the block, waited, and then went forward when the gap was there. That’s the difference.
Final thought
Against a back five, it’s rarely about forcing your way through. It’s more about patience. Keep the ball, move the opponent, wait for something small to open up — and then use it properly. Real Madrid didn’t do anything spectacular here. Just enough, at the right time. And that was enough to win.
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