Real Madrid lose to Celta Vigo as Barcelona extend four-point lead

After a goalless first half, both teams increased the tempo. In the 53rd minute, substitute Williot Swedberg scored the opener with a brilliant flick into the bottom-right corner. It was his first league goal and gave Celta the lead.

Real Madrid pushed for an equaliser, but things only got worse. In the 64th minute, left-back Fran García received two yellow cards in quick succession, leaving Madrid with 10 men. The home side continued to search for a goal but struggled in the final third as time ran out. Madrid were then reduced to nine players when centre-back Álvaro Carreras was sent off after receiving two yellow cards in a single minute.

Only 60 seconds later, Celta regained possession, counterattacked, and Williot Swedberg scored again to seal the 2-0 victory for the visitors. With this defeat, Real Madrid remained in second place, four points behind Barcelona, who beat Antony’s Real Betis 5-3 yesterday. Additionally, Madrid now hold only a one-point lead over Villarreal, who defeated Getafe 2-0 on Saturday.

Coach Xabi Alonso said after the match: “We are all angry. Evidently, this was not the game we wanted; it was not the result we wanted. We have to try to turn the page as quickly as possible. It’s only three points. We have the Champions League game against City to react, and to get this bad taste out of our mouths.”

Xabi Alonso is under serious pressure, as Real Madrid have won only one La Liga match since November 9th. He even held talks with club president Florentino Pérez earlier this week, but nothing has changed. To make matters worse, the squad is further weakened by injuries and suspensions. 

In the first half, Éder Militão was forced off in the 23rd minute with a hamstring issue. Dean Hulsen, Dani Carvajal, and Trent Alexander-Arnold have yet to return. Now, with Álvaro Carreras and Fran García suspended, Madrid are left with just two available centre-backs: Antonio Rüdiger and Raúl Asensio.

Real Madrid will face Manchester City at the Bernabéu in three days, at 3:00 AM on December 11th (GMT+7). But given the club’s current situation, they are clearly not favourites, especially as Pep Guardiola’s side look increasingly sharp and cohesive.