Real Madrid’s hopes of building momentum after a hard-fought victory over Athletic Bilbao were dashed on Sunday as they suffered a 2–0 home defeat against Celta Vigo, ending the match reduced to nine players.
Despite dominating possession and generating numerous attacking opportunities, Real Madrid were unable to find the back of the net. Swedish midfielder Williot Swidberg proved decisive for Celta, opening the scoring in the 54th minute before adding a second in stoppage time, sealing a memorable win for the visitors.
The match took a further dramatic turn with disciplinary incidents that compounded Real’s woes. Fran Garcia received a second yellow card and was dismissed, while Alvaro Carreras was shown a straight red following a dispute with the referee. Bench player Endrik also received a red card, marking a rare triple sending-off for the home side.
Head coach Alonso expressed his disappointment after the match, stating, “We are very frustrated. I was not happy with the refereeing. We must forget this quickly and move on. It’s just three points.”
The dual dismissals marked a historic low for Real Madrid, as it was the first time in 20 years that two players had been sent off in a single La Liga home fixture. The result adds pressure on the team in the title race, with Real having lost nine of the last fifteen points across their previous five matches, leaving them four points behind league leaders Barcelona.
Real Madrid now turn their attention to the Champions League, where they will face Manchester City in a crucial tie. Alonso is hopeful that the team can recover and refocus for European competition.
Match Summary: Real Madrid vs Celta Vigo
| Team | Goals | Scorers | Red Cards | Key Facts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real Madrid | 0 | – | Fran Garcia, Alvaro Carreras, Endrik | First time in 20 years two players sent off at home |
| Celta Vigo | 2 | Williot Swidberg (54’, 90+3’) | – | Swidberg scored both goals |
With morale shaken, Real Madrid must regroup quickly to salvage their La Liga campaign and prepare for a challenging European encounter against Manchester City, where they aim to restore confidence and form.