Mbappé sees red as Real Madrid edges Alaves

In Spain, Real Madrid overcame Kylian Mbappé’s red card incident to secure a narrow 1-0 victory against Alaves on April 13, 2025. The match, held at the Mendizorroza stadium, was tense and competitive, with both teams striving to gain crucial points in La Liga. Eduardo Camavinga scored the only goal of the match in the 34th minute, delivering a curling shot from the edge of the box after being set up by Fede Valverde. Following the goal, tensions escalated, culminating in a significant turning point when Mbappé was dismissed just before halftime for a reckless challenge on Antonio Blanco. This marked the first red card for Mbappé since 2019 when he was playing for Paris Saint-Germain. The referee initially showed a yellow card but upgraded it to red after reviewing the incident, a decision that sparked discussions about its severity. Alaves also saw a player sent off in the second half, with Manu Sánchez receiving a straight red card for a foul on Vinicius Junior. The match set the stage for critical implications for both teams, as Madrid aimed to close the gap on league leaders Barcelona, which had earned a win over Leganes earlier that weekend. This win ended a rough patch for Madrid, halting a three-game winless streak that included a defeat by Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finals. The dismissal of Mbappé put pressure on his teammates, but they managed to maintain composure under tough conditions. With this gritty performance, Real Madrid is better positioned for their upcoming matches, particularly looking ahead to their Champions League return leg against Arsenal.