Real Madrid overcame Kylian Mbappe's first-half red card to claim a nervy 1-0 win over LaLiga strugglers Alaves.

In a tight encounter at Mendizorroza, Eduardo Camavinga gave Madrid the lead in the 34th minute, scoring from outside the box with a brilliant curling shot with his left foot, after an earlier goal by Raul Asencio was ruled out following a VAR review.

But Mbappe’s reckless tackle on Alaves midfielder and former Madrid academy player Antonio Blanco left Carlo Ancelotti's team having to play all of the second half with 10 men.

The striker lunged late and high onto Blanco’s shin from behind, though the player count was levelled in the 70th minute after Vinicius Junior was subjected to a similar foul by Manu Sanchez.

Madrid had the chance to kill the game in stoppage time, but Jude Bellingham squandered a golden opportunity to double their lead. Teed up smartly by Vinícius, the England international could only produce a tame finish straight at Jesus Owono.

Los Blancos were not made to pay, though, as they moved back within four points of leaders Barcelona with seven games remaining.

Alaves, meanwhile, find themselves in 17th place with 30 points, one point outside the drop zone.

Data debrief: Camavinga ends three-year drought 

Camavinga’s strike marked his first LaLiga goal since March 5, 2022, when he scored with a similar long-range curling effort against Real Sociedad.

The victory also saw Madrid extend their dominant run away to Alaves, recording their fifth consecutive league win in Vitoria, becoming only the second team in LaLiga history to achieve such a feat, after Osasuna's six-game streak between 2006 and 2023.

Madrid ended the match with 11 shots – four of which were on target – at an expected goals (xG) value of just 0.74.

Alaves had similarly modest figures with 13 shots – six on target – at an xG of 0.68, though the hosts failed to trouble Thibaut Courtois in any real manner.

Mbappe, though, will now miss several key games in the run-in. If his punishment is more than two matches, then the France star will miss the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona on April 26, in what would be a huge blow to Los Blancos' chances.

He is only the second Madrid forward to receive a red card in the first half of a LaLiga match in the 21st century, after Ruud van Nistelrooy v Atletico Madrid in 2008.