Real Madrid weathered a late scare to claim a vital 3-2 victory over Celta Vigo on Sunday evening, tightening their grip on second place in La Liga and closing the gap on leaders Barcelona to just four points with El Clasico looming next weekend.
A brace from Kylian Mbappe and a stunning opener from Arda Güler secured Madrid’s fourth consecutive league win, but the defending champions were made to sweat in the closing stages as Celta Vigo mounted a spirited comeback through goals from Javi Rodríguez and Williot Swedberg.
With 67,661 fans packed into the Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid looked to be cruising after going 3-0 up just minutes into the second half. However, a sudden lapse in concentration gave Celta the opportunity to claw their way back into the game, and it was only thanks to a couple of crucial interventions from Thibaut Courtois that Los Blancos escaped with all three points.
The breakthrough came in the 33rd minute following a short corner routine. Lucas Vázquez laid the ball off to Arda Güler, who curled a left-footed effort toward the far post. A slight deflection wrong-footed goalkeeper Vicente Guaita as the ball nestled into the top corner, giving Madrid a deserved lead.
Six minutes later, Jude Bellingham led a rapid Madrid counterattack before sliding the ball into Mbappe’s path. The Frenchman, with minimal backlift, unleashed a rocket into the top right corner, doubling the hosts’ advantage and showcasing the ruthless edge that has defined his debut season in Spain.
Just three minutes into the second half, Güler turned provider, threading a beautiful through ball for Mbappe to chase. The striker made no mistake, coolly slotting into the bottom corner to make it 3-0. It appeared to be game over for Celta.
However, the Galicians refused to fold. They began to grow into the game and were rewarded in the 69th minute when Real Madrid failed to clear a corner. The ball fell kindly to Javi Rodríguez, who prodded home from close range to reduce the deficit.
Suddenly, Madrid’s dominance began to unravel, and Celta capitalized. Seven minutes later, club legend Iago Aspas—who had been introduced as a second-half substitute—played an inch-perfect ball behind the Madrid defense to Williot Swedberg. The Swedish forward took one touch before calmly slotting past Courtois to make it 3-2 and set up a nervy final 15 minutes for the home fans.
Celta came agonizingly close to leveling in the 78th minute when Pablo Durán raced through on goal following another moment of brilliance from Aspas. His initial shot slipped under Courtois, but the Belgian keeper recovered just in time to smother the ball before it crossed the line.
The closing minutes saw end-to-end action, with both teams pushing—Madrid to kill the game, and Celta to complete a sensational comeback. In the end, Real Madrid held firm and secured a win that could prove pivotal in the title race.
Madrid now head into El Clasico at Camp Nou next Sunday knowing a win would take them within a point of Barcelona with just three matches remaining in the season. For Celta, the defeat means they remain seventh, still clinging to hopes of European qualification.
Despite the result, Iago Aspas earned plaudits and the official “Player of the Match” award, proving once again why he remains a talismanic figure for Celta even in his twilight years.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side may have made it harder than necessary, but with Mbappe firing and Güler continuing to impress, Madrid are hitting form at just the right time.
Final Score: Real Madrid 3–2 Celta Vigo
Goals:
- Real Madrid: Güler (33′), Mbappe (39′, 48′)
- Celta Vigo: Rodríguez (69′), Swedberg (76′)
Next Fixture:
- El Clasico – Barcelona vs Real Madrid, Sunday, 11 May
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