Despite not performing at their peak in recent months, Real Madrid are in a favorable position to clinch the title with relative ease this season. They aim to move closer to that goal when they face a struggling Celta side on Sunday.
Under Rafael Benitez's management, Celta finds themselves in 17th place, just outside the relegation zone, reflecting their struggles. Real Madrid took a significant step towards reclaiming La Liga's title as they convincingly defeated Rafael Benitez's Celta Vigo, extending their lead to seven points.
Even without the suspended Jude Bellingham, Madrid seized the lead when Vinicius Jr pounced from close range after his initial attempt was blocked by Celta keeper Vicente Guaita.
This goal was well-deserved for Carlo Ancelotti's side after a dominant first half, although they showed signs of sloppiness in the second half, much to the frustration of the Bernabeu faithful. However, Celta failed to capitalize on Madrid's lapses.
Madrid squandered opportunities through Rodrygo and Brahim Diaz before sealing the game with three goals in the final 11 minutes. The first of these came from a set-piece, with an unmarked Antonio Rudiger heading against the bar before the ball ricocheted off Guaita into the net.
Subsequently, defensive chaos led to the third goal, as Vinicius' cross caused confusion between Guaita and Carlos Dominguez, resulting in an own goal. Turkish teenager Arda Guler capped off the victory by scoring his first goal for Madrid moments after coming on as a substitute.
With Girona and Barcelona, their closest rivals, winning earlier in the weekend, Madrid couldn't afford to offer any hope to their challengers with a slip-up against relegation-threatened Celta. Although dropping points seemed unlikely, the tension eased with the three late goals.
The Bernabeu crowd's frustration stemmed from another home game in five days where their team didn't dominate as expected. Real Madrid's performance against RB Leipzig in the Champions League on Wednesday was also below par, further adding to the fans' disappointment.
Final Result
Real Madrid 4 - 0 Celta Vigo
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