Real Madrid 2-1 Alaves result - Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior strike as Alvaro Arbeloa's side cut Barcelona's La Liga lead to six points

Real Madrid ended a four-game winless run to beat Alaves 2-1 and cut Barcelona’s lead at the top of La Liga to six points.

The victory will offer relief for head coach Alvaro Arbeloa, who had faced questions from the media about his future before the match.

Kylian Mbappe’s deflected effort - his 24th goal of the season - gave Los Blancos a first-half lead, and something for the Madrid fans to smile about after early whistles from the home crowd.

Eder Militao limped off just before the break to raise concern, but Vinicius Junior doubled the advantage just after the restart to complete a satisfactory night for the home side. Toni Martinez added a late consolation in stoppage-time for the visitors.

Barcelona have the chance to restore their nine-point lead when they host Celta Vigo on Wednesday.

An important and much-needed win for Real after four games without victory. It will ease the pressure slightly on head coach Alvaro Arbelao and cuts Barcelona’s lead to six points, albeit the Catalans have played a game fewer.

Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior with the goals on a night that will not live long in the memory.

How they needed that!

Finally, Alaves have their goal, and it's Martinez who has come so close on many occasions tonight who grabs it!

His strike looks to be going well wide but it takes a nasty deflection and ends up in the back of the net.

Still time for an equaliser?

Corner after corner, attack after attack, but Alaves still can't breach Real's rearguard.

Alena has time to control a pass inside the box and pick his target with his shot, but desperate defending from Real takes the effort behind for a corner.

A goal here from the visitors would really set up a nervous finale.

Another scare for Real as Martinez (again!) hits the post with a diving header!

Real are living dangerously.

For the third time this evening, Martinez has a clear sight at Real's goal. This time he makes the goalkeeper work with a powerful effort but it's straight down his throat and Lunin is able to make the save.

Carvahal delivers a sublime ball across the face of goal as Vinicius slides in to attack... but the ball deflects wide!

A clumsy moment when trying to play out from the back gifts Alaves possession in a dangerous area, and it's a let off for Real as Diomande strikes wide.

Diaz's run in behind the Alaves defense is picked out by Rudiger's ball over the top but the forward takes a heavy touch which allows the goalkeeper to smother the ball.

Madrid work another clever corner routine, Diaz curls a shot past the Alavez goalkeeper but a defender is on the line to head it clear!

Vinicius pounce on a defensive mistake and he cuts the ball to Mbappe on the overlap, but the French star shoots straight at the goalkeeper.

Diaz, Mastantuono come on, replacing Bellingham and Guler.

That will allow everyone at the Bernabeu some extra breathing space.

A sublime strike from Vinicius Junior from 25 yards doubles Los Blancos' advantage!

Los Blancos lead at the break thanks to Kylian Mbappe's 24th goal of the season.