After a month of away games, Real Madrid finally returned to its home stadium to face Celta Vigo. Based on the results of previous encounters, the match should have been a foregone conclusion, as Los Blancos have won the last eleven meetings and Celta Vigo last celebrated a victory against Real in 2017. The form curve also favoured the hosts in the run-up to the match, as Celta had only just won a cup match against Sant Andreu from Segunda División B on penalties on Wednesday, while Madrid had played an outstanding match against Athletic Bilbao. Nevertheless, Real Madrid were unable to secure the three points in this turbulent clash.
Celta started the first half with an attacking back three and did not allow themselves to be pushed back, while Real Madrid lacked pace in their attacking play in the opening minutes. The first dangerous situation for the visitors came early on when Bryan Zaragoza played a through ball to Pablo Durán, who failed to make good first contact and was stopped by Fran García. Both teams were getting closer and closer to the opposition’s penalty area, but their final actions remained inaccurate.
Arda Güler had Madrid’s first notable chance when he dribbled into the box from the right and shot from a tight angle. Celta keeper Andrei Radu made the difficult save. The resulting corner was also dangerous, as Güler found Jude Bellingham in the six-yard box, whose header was again saved by the Romanian keeper.
A little later, Durán took a long ball well but again failed to finish cleanly. Éder Militão saved the day for the Madrid defence but remained injured on the ground and had to be substituted shortly afterwards. Antonio Rüdiger took his place. Real continued to struggle after the early change and Celta pressed on. A desperate attempt by Marco Asensio flies wide of the goal, and Güler’s shot from the left of the penalty area is also blocked. Despite having slightly more possession, Madrid remain harmless, while Celta increasingly retreat and wait for counterattacks.
Real only started to apply more pressure in the final minutes before half-time. After high pressing, Durán skilfully ran into space, but Thibaut Courtois prevented his side from falling behind. Things got dicey again when Vini Jr. shot from twelve metres, but Radu deflected the ball with his fingertips. The score remained 0:0 at half-time, although Real deserved to be ahead at this point.
After the break, Celta brought on Williot Swedberg for the injured Durán. However, Real Madrid had the first chance of the half when Federico Valverde volleyed from distance. Radu only managed to hold onto the ball at the second attempt and looked insecure. Madrid now had more possession, but failed to create any dangerous chances. And so it often goes in football: you pay for the chances you miss. A medium-height cross from Zaragoza found Swedberg at the penalty spot, who sinks the ball into the bottom right corner with the outside of his foot to make it 1:0 for the visitors.
Xabi Alonso reacts immediately and brings on Rodrygo for the inconspicuous Asensio. But Real remain imprecise in their passing and lose the ball too easily, while Celta provoke these uncertainties but fail to capitalise on them themselves. The frustration in the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu is palpable.
A hectic phase follows, with Madrid receiving two yellow cards and one yellow-red card within a few minutes. Bellingham receives his warning for putting on a fresh shirt on the pitch after bleeding from his eyebrow. Shortly afterwards, Fran García is first warned for a push and then sent off for a late tackle. Paradoxically, this seems to shake Los Blancos up and they suddenly show much more attacking intent.
Celta now bring on Javi Rueda for Zaragoza and Ferran Jutglà for Óscar Mingueza. Shortly after, coach Xabi Alonso receives a yellow for disputing a foul by Álvaro Carreras he thought was wrongly given. The next big chance belongs to Real again: Kylian Mbappé runs alone towards Radu after a through ball from Aurélien Tchouaméni, but fails to score with a lob just over the goal. Gonzalo García then replaces Güler, and Real continuously remain surprisingly dominant despite being a man down.
In the final stages, the pressure from the Royals increases once again. Celta’s Ilaix Moriba is shown a yellow card for a foul on Carreras, and shortly afterwards Fran Beltrán replaces Miguel Román. A corner from Rodrygo finds Tchouaméni, but his header is too central for Radu. Gonzalo García then sends in a strong cross that goes just wide of the left post. Celta finally brought on Borja Iglesias for Iago Aspas to run down the clock.
The five minutes of added time were chaotic. Carreras complained about a free kick being taken and was initially shown a yellow card, then a red card shortly afterwards for further protests. In addition, Valverde and Rodrygo receive yellow cards in the midst of a scuffle around the referee, while Endrick receives a red card on the bench.
Finally, the decision is made. With a two-man advantage, Celta combine through the Madrid defence, Aspas plays a through ball to Swedberg, who beats Courtois before finishing into the empty net.
Thus, Real Madrid lose 2:0 to Celta Vigo, allowing the gap to league leaders Barcelona to grow to four points. Xabi Alonso’s team has only managed one win in their last five league games. Thanks to the three points, Celta Vigo jumps to tenth place in the table. The Royals only really got into the game towards the end of the first half, but missed the chance to take the lead. After the break, Vigo were much more effective and took their chances with clinical precision, while Real Madrid weakened themselves in the turmoil.
On Wednesday, Real face anything but an easy task at home in the Champions League against Manchester City.