Following bruising exits from both the Champions League and the Copa del Rey, Real Madrid have been left with one final target this season — retaining their La Liga crown.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side will welcome Celta Vigo to the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday, desperate to remain within touching distance of league leaders Barcelona. Madrid currently sit second, four points adrift, and must avoid any further slip-ups to keep their title hopes alive.
The capital club suffered a heavy blow midweek when defender Antonio Rüdiger received a six-match ban for throwing an object at a referee. He has also undergone knee surgery, ruling him out for the remainder of the campaign. He joins fellow defenders Ferland Mendy and David Alaba on the injury list, alongside long-term absentees Dani Carvajal and Éder Militão.
With Madrid’s defence already a cause for concern this season, the situation has further worsened ahead of Celta’s visit. The Galician side, who are pushing for European qualification, could pose a real threat, especially given Madrid’s inconsistency — they have already lost five league matches this term, a stark contrast to last season’s near-perfect title run.
Despite Madrid’s recent cup setbacks, manager Carlo Ancelotti remains optimistic. The Italian, who is expected to depart at the end of the season, said his side must keep fighting.
“We’ve had a week to prepare for Celta and then Barcelona. We must continue competing until the end,” Ancelotti said.
Madrid’s next league fixture after Celta is a crucial encounter against Barcelona at the Olympic Stadium — a potential title decider. For that match to have maximum impact, Los Blancos must avoid dropping any more points, especially with Barcelona visiting Real Valladolid on Saturday between their Champions League semi-final clashes with Inter Milan.
Madrid previously defeated Celta Vigo in the Copa del Rey last 16, although that match ended in controversy after Celta were denied a clear-looking penalty. Veteran striker Iago Aspas hasn’t forgotten.
“All of Spain saw it,” he said this week. Still, he warned against underestimating Real Madrid: “In football, nothing is certain. One moment it looks like you’ll lose and you win instead.”
Aspas added that Celta will aim to play on the front foot: “We want to be protagonists, have the ball and attack — we’ll see how it turns out.”