Real Madrid 2-1 Alaves, La Liga 2025-26 Highlights: Rodrygo Fires Los Blancos To Victory - As It Happened

Welcome folks to the live coverage of the La Liga 2025-26 matchday 16 match between Deportivo Alaves and Real Madrid. Follow our live blog for real-time updates, scores and more.

• Fixture: Alaves Vs Real Madrid, Matchday 16

• Venue: Mendizorrotza Stadium

• Date: Monday, December 15, 2025

• Time: 01:30 AM IST

• Live Streaming: FanCode app/website

The Los Blancos are well and truly under immense pressure as they look to get their form back ahead of new year. Especially head coach Xabi Alonso is under fire, following defeats from Celta Vigo and Manchester City last week.

However, the players have expressed that they have full faith in Alonso, heading into the most crunch phases of the season.

Starting XI: Curtois (GK), Valverde, Asencio, Rudiger, Valdepenas, Arda Guller, Tchouameni, Bellingham, Rodrygo, Mbappe and Vini Jr.

Substitutes: Lunin, Sergio Mestre, Gonzalo, Ceballos, Brahim, Huijsen, Cestero, Mastantuono, Joan Martinez and Thiago.

Starting XI: Sivera (GK), Otto, Tenaglia, Parada, Blanco, Ibanez, Denis Suarez, Calebe, Rebbach and Lucas Boye

Substitutes: Fernandez (GK), Monteor (GK), Youssef, Guevara, Carlos V, Mariano, Alena, T. Martinez, Guridi, Diarra, Protesoni and Manas

Kylian Mbappe has returned for the Madridistas after missing the mid-week UEFA Champions League match against Manchester City at the Santiago Bernabeu, where Los Blancos lost by 2-1.

And we are underway for the first half of this important match between Real Madrid and Alaves. Let's see if Kylian Mbappe can open the scoring on his return.

An accidental turnover from Alaves found Valverde with the ball wide on the right. He quickly scanned the area before whipping in a low delivery for Mbappe at the edge of the area. Mbappe's attempt on goal was blocked and bounced away, resulting in a right-sided corner.

Another chance goes begging as Valverde's clever pass found Rodrygo in the area, but the Brazilian's ambitious shot from the narrow angle missed the far post.

Despite Real Madrid controlling 71% of the ball, Alaves are organized in their own half. Their only real outlet is the immediate counter-attack, which, though rapid, has so far failed to test the keeper definitively.

A moment of brilliance! Mbappe makes it 1-0 with his 17th strike of the campaign, finding the top-right corner emphatically! Bellingham provided the perfect assist, splitting the defense to find Mbappe's run on the left. Mbappé used his pace to charge forward, cut inside, and finish the play with a powerful, clinical effort.

This is the Real Madrid we know of. Dominant, comfortable with possession and always on the lookout to score goals. Alaves have seen just 45% of the ball.

It is half-time at the Mendizorrotza stadium and Real Madrid are leading by 1-0, not a safe cushion, but they will be happy with the way things went, even if they couldn't add a second goal.

Alaves will be in huge trouble if they continue to play like this in the 2nd half.

Madrid might be cruising at the moment, but they must remember that an one-goal cushion is not enough, especially against these mid-table clubs. Madrid know it themselves, having found the back of the net only once.

Alaves only have 4% chances of staging a possible comeback and Real Madrid have more than 80 of it.

Not much to talk about so far in the 2nd half as Real Madrid are once again playing in the same lethargic way as they did in the first-half. Alaves have been no chances to get inside the box, and whenever they have done, it has been averted.

Hold on for a second as the referee goes to the sidelines to have a look himself for a possible disallowed goal, but it has been ruled out.

Real Madrid blow away their 1-0 lead, which we have been saying from the start that it is not safe and against the run of play, Alaves score.

Instant impact from sub Vicente as he latched onto Blanco's fantastic long ball that tricked the the offside trap (confirmed by VAR after a delay), and slotted it past Courtois into the right corner. The stadium is electric as the goal stands, tying the match dramatically.

Absolutely poor there by Madrid

No one can hold Real Madrid for much longer, can they?

Rodrygo puts Madrid back in front! The goal was all about the vision and execution of Vinicius Junior.

After receiving the ball on the left, Vinicius cut toward the center and spotted Rodrygo's perfectly timed run. His precise, low pass across the box was all the Brazilian needed to slot the ball past the keeper. Alonso and the bench celebrate as Madrid regain their lead.

A scrappy performance, but Real Madrid gain 3 important points in the title race against leaders FC Barcelona.

Thanks for joining everyone, hope you enjoyed our company. See you in another blog. Good Night.