(VIDEO) Unbelievable tackle from Kylian Mbappe ends in straight red

Real Madrid are 1-0 up against Alaves at the Santiago Bernabeu, but the real headline of the night is not the scoreline. Kylian Mbappe has been sent off before half-time after a reckless challenge that left the hosts down to ten men with plenty of football still to be played.

The incident happened around the 38th minute in a moment that caught everyone off guard. Mbappe lunged in hard to stop a potential counter, but the tackle was far too aggressive. The referee did not hesitate – straight red. No need for VAR, no delays. The decision was swift and clear, and the Bernabeu crowd fell silent.

What makes it more surprising is that Mbappe is not known for this kind of behaviour. He rarely commits harsh fouls and has a clean disciplinary record. Whether it was frustration or a mistimed tackle, the outcome was serious: Madrid now face the rest of the match with one less man on the pitch.

Up until that moment, the Frenchman had been relatively quiet. He linked up well at times and showed flashes of pace, but he was not heavily involved in the goal that gave Madrid the lead – a well-taken chance after a mistake in Alaves’ defence.

Carlo Ancelotti, who had been preparing for a routine half-time talk, now finds himself needing to reshuffle the team on the fly. The Italian manager must react quickly to avoid losing control of a game that seemed comfortable minutes earlier.

There are still a few minutes left before the break, and the pressure is growing. Alaves sense an opportunity and are pushing forward, while Madrid try to slow things down and manage the situation.

Mbappe’s red card is sure to dominate post-match discussions, regardless of the final result. For now, all eyes remain on the pitch as the first half edges towards a dramatic conclusion.