Real Madrid close on Barcelona as Mbappe and Vinicius net against Alaves

play Live Sign upShow navigation menu.css-15ru6p1{font-size:inherit;font-weight:normal;}Navigation menuNewsShow more news sectionsAfricaAsiaUS & CanadaLatin AmericaEuropeAsia PacificMiddle EastExplainedOpinionSportVideoMoreShow more sectionsFeaturesEconomyHuman RightsClimate CrisisInvestigationsInteractivesIn PicturesScience & TechnologyPodcastsTravelplay Live Click here to searchsearchSign upNavigation menucaret-leftTrendingUS-Israeli war on IranTracking Israel's ceasefire violationsRussia-Ukraine warDonald Trumpcaret-rightNews|FootballReal Madrid close on Barcelona as Mbappe and Vinicius net against AlavesReal Madrid beat relegation-threatened Alaves 2-1 in La Liga to close the gap to leaders Barcelona to six points. xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogleAdd Al Jazeera on GoogleinfoKylian Mbappe of Real Madrid, right, reacts during the LaLiga match against Deportivo Alaves [Denis Doyle/Getty Images]By AFPPublished On 21 Apr 202621 Apr 2026Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior scored as Real Madrid beat Alaves 2-1 to cling on to their slim hopes of catching Barcelona in La Liga. Mbappe struck for the first time in the league since early February with a deflected shot on the half hour on Tuesday. Vinicius lashed in a second from distance early in the second half, which proved crucial as Alaves pulled a goal back in stoppage time through Toni Martinez. The victory ended a two-match winless run in La Liga for Madrid and moved them back to within six points of leaders Barcelona, who host Celta Vigo on Wednesday having played one game fewer. Both Real and Barca were eliminated from the UEFA Champions League last week leaving them to battle for the Spanish title, which was won last season by the latter. Los Blancos are fighting to avoid a second trophyless season. Real Betis came from behind to triumph 3-2 at Girona as Rodrigo Riquelme bagged the winner 10 minutes from time. Gorka Guruzeta’s first-half goal lifted Athletic Bilbao to a 1-0 home win over Osasuna, while Mallorca and Valencia drew 1-1. Advertisement AboutAboutShow moreAbout UsCode of EthicsTerms and ConditionsEU/EEA Regulatory NoticePrivacy PolicyCookie PolicyCookie PreferencesAccessibility StatementSitemapWork for usConnectConnectShow moreContact UsUser Accounts HelpAdvertise with usStay ConnectedNewslettersChannel FinderTV SchedulePodcastsSubmit a TipPaid Partner ContentOur ChannelsOur ChannelsShow moreAl Jazeera ArabicAl Jazeera EnglishAl Jazeera Investigative UnitAl Jazeera MubasherAl Jazeera DocumentaryAl Jazeera BalkansAJ+Our NetworkOur NetworkShow moreAl Jazeera Centre for StudiesAl Jazeera Media InstituteLearn ArabicAl Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human RightsAl Jazeera ForumAl Jazeera Hotel PartnersFollow Al Jazeera English: