Real Madrid have kept the pressure on Barcelona in the La Liga title race – but only just – after a 3-2 victory over Celta Vigo at the Santiago Bernabeu.
2024/2025 La Liga
3-2
Match Report
It was a difficult opening half hour for Real Madrid, who failed to register a shot on target – but that changed with the opening goal. A short corner routine involving Arda Guler and Lucas Vazquez saw the ball returned to the former, who picked out the far corner with a spectacular strike that left Celta goalkeeper Vicente Guaita with no chance.
And it was another excellent finish that saw Real Madrid double their lead a few minutes later. A quick counter-attack saw Jude Bellingham play in Kylian Mbappe, who rocketed an effort from the edge of the box that flew past Guaita and into the same corner that Guler picked out just before.
And only a few minutes into the second half, Real Madrid would make it 3-0 – and it was Mbappe that scored his second of the afternoon. He was played in behind by Guler, and with only Guaita to beat, he made no mistake to grab his 24th La Liga goal of the season, which put him one behind Robert Lewandowski in the Pichichi Trophy race.
The match looked done at that stage, but Celta launched an impressive fightback. Javi Rodriguez scored from close range to make it 3-1 on 69 minutes, and soon after, they made it 3-2 as Williot Swedberg slotted past Thibaut Courtois following a wonderful pass from Iago Aspas.
Celta almost made it 3-3 when Pablo Duran came close, but in the end, Real Madrid managed to hang on to the victory. It means that they are now four points behind Barcelona, who they play in El Clasico next weekend.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
3' Vini Jr's cross finds Guler who delivers a volley but it is high
5' Marcos Alonso's header is just high
6' Another header from Marcos Alonso is denied by Courtois
15' A great chance for Celta is ruled offside
28' Guler picks up Vini Jr's pass but misses the chance to score
29' Real Madrid appeal for hand-ball in the box but the ref takes no action
33' GOAL! Arda Guler curls the ball into the far corner! Real Madrid 1-0 Celta
38' Celta's effort takes a deflection in the box but Courtois palms it out
39' GOAL! Mbappe extends the lead for hosts! Real Madrid 2-0 Celta
45' Bellingham is booked yellow for his bad tackling
48' GOAL! Mbappe nets double as Arda Guler assists! Real Madrid 3-0 Celta
56' Bellingham dribbles the ball and gives a long-range shot but it goes high
58' Arda Guler's left footed shot in the box is saved by the keeper
62' Yoel Lago is booked yellow for pulling down Mbappe
66' Raul Asencio is replaced by Jacobo Ramon
69' GOAL! Javi Rodríguez pulls one back for visitors! Real Madrid 3-1 Celta
71' Valverde is brought down in the box but there's no penalty
72' Vini Jr breaks into the box but his shot is wide
76' GOAL! Williot Swedberg nets as Aspas assists! Real Madrid 3-2 Celta
80' Huge scare for Real Madrid as Celta's close-range shot is denied by Courtois
85' Highlight from Real Madrid vs Celta
Line-ups
Real Madrid XI: Courtois, Vazquez, Ceballos, Mbappe, Valverde, Fran García, Tchouameni, Vinicius, Bellingham, Güler, Raúl Asencio
Subs: Modric, Vallejo, Brahim, Lunin, Endrick, Youssef Enríquez, Jacobo Ramón, Sergio Mestre
Celta XI: Guaita, Alonso, Iglesias, Beltran, Alfon González, Carreira, Óscar Mingueza, Hugo Sotelo, Yoel Lago, Javi Rodríguez, Fer López
Subs: Aspas, Villar, Mihailo Ristic, Franco Cervi, Jailson, Ilaix Moriba, Losada, Williot Swedberg, Carlos Domínguez, Damián Rodríguez, Hugo Álvarez, Pablo Durán