Real Madrid vs Celta Vigo

Real Madrid will aim to keep their La Liga title hopes alive as they host a formidable Celta Vigo side at home on Sunday afternoon.

Under Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid sit second in the La Liga standings, trailing leaders Barcelona by four points, while Celta Vigo, in seventh, are pushing for a European spot in the 2025-26 season. With five games remaining, the gap to Barcelona could widen to seven points if Hansi Flick’s team, as expected, defeats bottom-placed Real Valladolid on Saturday.

A failure to secure all three points could effectively end Real Madrid’s title challenge, but a win would bolster their position ahead of a crucial clash with Barcelona on May 11.

It’s been a challenging spell for Ancelotti’s squad, with a heavy defeat to Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finals and a 3-2 loss to Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final last weekend. However, Los Blancos have ground out three consecutive 1-0 league victories and now need to maintain that momentum against a Celta side with European aspirations.

Real Madrid boast a strong record against Celta, winning their last nine La Liga encounters, including a 2-1 victory in Vigo earlier this season and a 5-2 triumph in the Copa del Rey at Bernabeu in January. Celta haven’t beaten Real Madrid in La Liga since May 2014 and haven’t won at Bernabeu in the top flight for nearly two decades, underscoring the challenge they face.

Still, Claudio Giraldez’s Celta arrive in good form after a convincing 3-0 home win over Villarreal, a result that keeps them in seventh, on track for a Europa League spot. With 46 points, they hold a slim two-point lead over ninth-placed Mallorca, making every match critical.

Celta’s away form has been a weak point, with just 13 points from 16 road games, including a 4-3 defeat to Barcelona in their last away outing on April 19. However, their home record is impressive, with 10 wins from 17 matches, and they’ll lean on that strength to push for European qualification next season.

Long-term knee ailments have kept Real Madrid without Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao for the remainder of the season. Ferland Mendy, David Alaba, and Antonio Rudiger have also had their campaigns end as a result of physical problems.

Although Jones El-Abdellaoui is once again doubtful due to a thigh complaint and Carl Starfelt is still out with a hamstring issue, Celta is otherwise in great form for the match.

Head coach Giraldez may make a single change to the team that faced Villarreal at the first whistle, possibly starting Ilaix Moriba in midfield instead of Fran Beltran.