Xabi Alonso thinks Real Madrid deserved a penalty in the win over Alaves

Gilabola.com – Real Madrid returned to winning ways after beating Alaves 2-1 at Mendizorroza, a result that cut the gap on Barcelona to four points and eased the pressure somewhat on coach Xabi Alonso.

In that match, Madrid took the lead through Kylian Mbappe, was equalized by Carlos Vicente, then secured the three points through Rodrygo’s goal, amidst the spotlight on the referee’s decision not to give a penalty to Vinicius Junior.

This victory came at an important moment for Madrid, who previously experienced a series of unsatisfactory results. Several draws in the league as well as a defeat against Celta Vigo made Alonso’s position questionable. An additional three points from Vitoria gave the team a breather towards the end of the year.

Alonso assessed that the match was running at a high level of competition from the start. He saw his team start the match very well and were able to take the lead quickly, but then lost control of the game. According to him, this situation prevented Madrid from closing the first half ideally.

Entering the second half, Alonso assessed that Real Madrid looked neat again and created opportunities. However, he highlighted the moment when his team conceded through the only mistake of Valdepeñas, who he said was very solid in other moments. Carlos Vicente took advantage of the opportunity after receiving an excellent pass.

However, Alonso considered the team’s response to be appreciated. He saw the players continue to show character and courage to continue fighting in a difficult stadium. Madrid’s second goal was considered proof of the team’s mentality of not giving up until the end of the match.

Vinicius Penalty and Referee Decision

One of the main topics after the match was the incident in the Alaves penalty box involving Vinicius Junior. Alonso considered there was clear contact when Vinicius moved at high speed in the restricted area. He admitted he was surprised because the situation was not even reviewed via VAR.

Alonso emphasized that he chose to discuss the incident, not the referee’s performance as a whole. According to him, decisions like this have often happened and the team must learn to continue fighting. He emphasized that Real Madrid did not want to get involved in polemics and chose to focus on the next match.

This victory was also marked by the contribution of important players. Mbappe opened the scoring in the first half, while Vinicius played a big role with the assist for Rodrygo’s decisive goal. This combination shows that Madrid’s front line is still the main weapon.

Alonso’s relationship with Vinicius has been the subject of discussion since the player substitution incident in El Clasico some time ago. However, in this match the two of them were seen hugging when Vinicius was pulled out. This moment was seen as a signal that internal communication was maintained.

Alonso emphasized that the team’s main focus is their own work. He said all the players were on the same path, supporting each other in good and difficult moments. The condition of the team which was hit by many absences made this victory considered even more valuable.

The Spanish coach also gave special praise to Valdepeñas who made his debut with the first team. He assessed that the player appeared calm, stable and able to compete at the highest level. According to him, his debut with Real Madrid is always a special moment.

With this victory, Real Madrid still maintains a safe distance in the title race. They are now four points behind Barcelona and still have two games before the Christmas break. Alonso said consistency was the key to improving his position in the standings.

Our opinion

In our opinion, this victory shows that Real Madrid still has a strong mental foundation, even though their performance is not completely stable. Criticism of the referee’s decision is valid, but the success of recovering after conceding is even more important, because the consistency of reactions like this is what will determine the extent to which Madrid is able to pressure Barcelona until the end of the season.