Real Madrid notched up their fourth consecutive league victory, beating RC Celta de Vigo 3-2 at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, keeping their LaLiga aspirations buoyant ahead of next weekend’s potentially title-deciding El Clásico showdown against Barcelona.
“The Classico? It’s the most important game of the year. It’s the last chance to win La Liga.” Fede Valverdy.
The match kicked off at a frenetic pace, with Marcos Alonso’s early header forcing a spectacular save from Thibaut Courtois to repel Celta’s threat.
As expected, Real dominated possession, eventually being rewarded just after the half-hour mark when Arda Güler’s shot deflected off Alonso and into the top corner.
Los Blancos doubled their lead in just six minutes, thanks to a smart stop from Courtois that sparked a swift counter-attack, culminating in Kylian Mbappé’s clinical finish beyond Vicente Guaita’s reach.
Real seemed to have wrapped up the match early in the second half when Güler’s through ball found Mbappé, who slotted home with ease.
However, Celta refused to give up, scoring through Javi Rodriguez’s close-range finish with just over 20 minutes to play.
A comeback became a real possibility when Williot Swedberg timed his run to perfection and tucked home lago Aspas’s pass.
In a heart-stopping moment, Pablo Durán’s low shot squirmed under Courtois but stopped just short of the goal line.
Despite their valiant effort, Celta ultimately couldn’t overturn the deficit, extending their wait for a first head-to-head win since January 2017.
Nevertheless, their seventh-place position puts them in a strong position to secure a return to European football for the first time in nine years.
Meanwhile, Real’s win keeps them just four points behind league leaders Barcelona, setting up a thrilling El Clásico showdown next weekend.
The post Real Madrid edge past Celta Vigo in nail-biting win to keep LaLiga title dreams afloat first appeared on 3News.
Read Full Story
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram
Google+
YouTube
LinkedIn
RSS