Real Madrid Clings to Title Aspirations with Late Deflected Goal Against Celta Vigo
Synopsis
Real Madrid's thrilling 2-1 victory over Celta Vigo kept their La Liga title hopes alive, thanks to a late deflected goal by Federico Valverde. The match featured a stunning opener from Tchouameni and a resilient performance despite missing key players.
Key Takeaways
Real Madrid remains in contention for the La Liga title.
A late deflected goal by Valverde secured the win.
Tchouameni opened the scoring with a spectacular goal.
Celta Vigo managed to equalize but fell short.
Key players missing included Mbappe and Bellingham.
Madrid, March 7 (NationPress) Real Madrid remains firmly in the La Liga title race following a lucky 2-1 victory against Celta Vigo on Friday night. The match was set to conclude in a 1-1 draw, which would have allowed FC Barcelona to extend their lead at the top of the table by six points. However, a deflected shot from Federico Valverde in the 94th minute, originating from outside the Celta box, took a significant deflection off Marcos Alonso, leaving goalkeeper Ionut Radu with no chance, according to reports from Xinhua.
Missing key players like Kylian Mbappe, Eder Militao, Jude Bellingham, and David Alaba, Real Madrid initially took the lead in the 11th minute with a stunning goal by Aurelien Tchouameni, who executed a brilliant curled shot from a distance.
However, the advantage was short-lived. In the 25th minute, Borja Iglesias equalized for Celta with his inaugural goal against Real Madrid. Williot Swedberg exploited space behind Trent Alexander-Arnold, turned the full-back, and set up Iglesias, who finished past goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Tchouameni stood out as Real Madrid's top performer during the first half, effectively disrupting plays and pushing his team forward, but Celta's defense kept Brahim Diaz and Vinicius Jr. from gaining any significant space.
Courtois made a spectacular save to deny Swedberg a goal just before halftime.
Late in the game, Real Madrid believed they had earned a penalty when Ferran Jutgla handled the ball in the Celta box, but the referee dismissed it due to an earlier foul on Ilaix Moriba.
In the closing moments, Iago Aspas managed to get the ball past Courtois, but it ricocheted off the post, before luck favored Madrid with Valverde's deflected winner.
Point of View
Real Madrid's recent win demonstrates their resilience and ability to perform under pressure, even when facing significant player absences. This match reinforces their determination in the La Liga title race and adds another chapter to their storied rivalry with Barcelona.
NationPress
2 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Real Madrid win against Celta Vigo?
Real Madrid secured a 2-1 victory over Celta Vigo with a late deflected goal from Federico Valverde, following an earlier goal from Tchouameni.
Who scored the goals for Real Madrid?
Aurelien Tchouameni scored the first goal, and Federico Valverde netted the winning goal late in the match.
What impact does this victory have on La Liga standings?
This win keeps Real Madrid in the title race, preventing FC Barcelona from extending their lead at the top of the La Liga table.
Which key players were missing for Real Madrid?
Real Madrid was without Kylian Mbappe, Eder Militao, Jude Bellingham, and David Alaba for this match.
What was the score of the match?
The final score was Real Madrid 2, Celta Vigo 1.
