Real Madrid hosts Celta Vigo at the Santiago Bernabéu today in a crucial La Liga clash, with Los Blancos needing all three points to keep their title hopes alive. Carlo Ancelotti’s side sit second in the table, four points behind Barcelona with five matches remaining, and cannot afford to slip up before next week’s pivotal El Clásico. Celta Vigo, meanwhile, are seventh and chasing a Europa League spot, just two points clear of eighth-placed Osasuna.
Team News & Predicted Lineups
Real Madrid
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The defending champions are facing a defensive crisis, missing Antonio Rüdiger, Ferland Mendy, David Alaba, Éder Militão, Dani Carvajal, and Eduardo Camavinga due to injury. Rodrygo has also been left out of the squad.
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Ancelotti is expected to field a makeshift backline, with Lucas Vázquez at right-back, Fran García at left-back, and Raúl Asencio partnering Aurélien Tchouaméni in central defense.
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Thibaut Courtois will start in goal.
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The midfield could see Dani Ceballos as the holding player, with Fede Valverde and Luka Modric ahead, while Jude Bellingham operates as the attacking midfielder.
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Up front, Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé are expected to lead the line.
Predicted XI:
Courtois; Vázquez, Asencio, Tchouaméni, Fran García; Valverde, Ceballos, Modric, Bellingham; Vinícius, Mbappé
Celta Vigo
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Carl Starfelt is out with a hamstring injury, while Jones El-Abdellaoui is a doubt.
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Claudio Giráldez is likely to stick with the side that beat Villarreal 3-0 last week.
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Vicente Guaita starts in goal behind a back three of Yoel Lago, Carlos Domínguez, and Marcos Alonso.
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Hugo Álvarez and Óscar Mingueza are expected to play as wing-backs, with Damian Rodríguez and Ilaix Moriba in central midfield.
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Fer López and Alfonso González will provide width, and Borja Iglesias leads the attack.
Predicted XI:
Guaita; Lago, Domínguez, Alonso; Álvarez, Rodríguez, Moriba, Mingueza; F. López, Iglesias, González
Key Stats
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Real Madrid have won their last nine La Liga matches against Celta Vigo and are unbeaten in their last 18 games against them (15 wins, three draws)56.
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Celta Vigo’s last league win over Real Madrid was more than a decade ago, in the 2013/14 season56.
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The last seven meetings between these sides have produced at least three goals6.
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Real Madrid’s last eight La Liga games have all been decided by a single-goal margin1.
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Celta Vigo have only scored once in their last four league matches against Real Madrid, conceding nine times6.
Player to Watch: Kylian Mbappé
Mbappé is expected to start after coming off the bench to score in the Copa del Rey final defeat to Barcelona. He has 33 goals and four assists in 50 appearances this season, averaging a goal every 124 minutes3. With Real Madrid’s title hopes on the line, his contribution will be vital.
Real Madrid vs Celta Vigo Prediction
Despite their defensive absences, Real Madrid’s attacking firepower, led by Mbappé and Vinícius, should be enough to overcome a Celta Vigo side that has historically struggled in this fixture. Expect a high-scoring affair, with Real Madrid keeping their title challenge alive.
Real Madrid 3-1 Celta Vigo
Real Madrid vs Celta Vigo Live Stream
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