Real Madrid overcame a late scare to defeat Celta Vigo 3-2 at the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday night, with Kylian Mbappe scoring twice and Arda Guler adding a stunning goal. The win narrows the gap to La Liga leaders Barcelona to just four points, setting the stage for a dramatic El Clasico showdown next weekend.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side started strong and looked in full control early on. The breakthrough came in the 33rd minute after a clever short corner routine. Turkish midfielder Arda Guler curled in a powerful shot from the edge of the box. A slight deflection sent it past goalkeeper Vicente Guaita and into the top corner. It was a moment of class from the young star, whose influence is growing with every match.
Just six minutes later, Real Madrid doubled their lead. A quick break from a Celta Vigo corner turned into a lightning-fast counterattack. Mbappe finished it off with power, driving the ball into the net with no hesitation. The French forward’s pace and timing left the Celta defence with no chance.
Mbappe Continues Hot Streak With Another Cool Finish
In the 48th minute, Real Madrid struck again. Guler played a brilliant through ball to Mbappe, who stayed calm and slotted it past Guaita with his left foot. It was Mbappe’s second goal of the match and his 21st of the league season. The strike looked like it had sealed the result, putting the hosts 3-0 ahead with more than 40 minutes to play.
But Celta Vigo refused to give up. They began pressing harder, and Madrid’s defence showed signs of cracking. In the 69th minute, Javi Rodriguez scored from close range after Los Blancos failed to clear a corner. The goal gave the visitors a much-needed boost.
Just seven minutes later, Celta Vigo struck again. Iago Aspas, the team’s captain and playmaker, picked out Williot Swedberg with a perfect pass between two defenders. The Swedish forward stayed composed and finished smartly past Thibaut Courtois to make it 3-2.
Madrid Survive Late Pressure in Tense Final Minutes
The match took on a frantic pace in the final 15 minutes. Celta Vigo nearly completed the comeback in the 78th minute when Pablo Duran was set through by another excellent pass from Aspas. Duran’s shot beat Courtois but lacked power, and the Belgian keeper managed to scramble back and stop the ball from crossing the line.
Real Madrid held firm as Celta pushed forward again and again. Ancelotti made late substitutions to add fresh legs and reinforce the midfield. Madrid’s defence, led by Antonio Rüdiger and Dani Carvajal, made crucial blocks and interceptions to protect the slim lead.
In the final moments, the tension inside the stadium was high, but the reigning champions showed their experience. They controlled the ball well in added time and frustrated Celta’s final attempts. When the referee blew the whistle, it was a huge relief for the home side.
El Clasico Looms as Madrid Stay in Title Race
The win keeps Real Madrid firmly in the title race. With only three matches remaining after El Clasico, next weekend’s clash against Barcelona could define the season. If Madrid win, they would be just one point behind their rivals, putting huge pressure on the Catalan side.
Kylian Mbappe’s performance, combined with Arda Guler’s growing confidence, gives Madrid fans hope heading into the season’s biggest game. Ancelotti praised his team’s resilience, saying, “We suffered at the end, but we deserved the three points. Now we focus on Barcelona.”
Celta Vigo, despite the loss, showed great character. They remain in seventh place and continue to fight for a spot in next season’s European competitions. With their attack improving, they are still strong contenders for a top-six finish.