Following Barcelona`s hard-fought victory on Saturday against Valladolid, Real Madrid finds itself needing a win to maintain pace in the La Liga title race. A victory against Celta Vigo would narrow the gap to four points ahead of their upcoming meeting on May 11. It has been a challenging season for Real Madrid, and any further slip-ups, especially before or during the Clasico, could effectively end their title hopes, with Barcelona currently holding a strong position.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti not only faces uncertainty regarding his own future, as he is expected to leave the club at the season`s end, but also significant squad issues due to suspensions and injuries. David Alaba is sidelined for the rest of the season, and Antonio Rudiger has received a six-match suspension for throwing objects towards the referee. This suspension not only rules Rudiger out for the remainder of Real Madrid`s season but also for the first match of the next campaign.
Match Information
- Date: Sunday, May 4 | Time: 8 a.m. ET
- Location: Estadio Santiago Bernabeu — Madrid, Spain
- Live stream: ESPN+
- Odds: Real Madrid -250; Draw +425; Celta Vigo +550
Previous Encounter
In their last meeting in the Copa del Rey, Celta Vigo pushed Real Madrid to the limit before ultimately falling in extra time after conceding three unanswered goals. Real Madrid initially led 2-0 but allowed two goals after the 83rd minute, including a penalty successfully converted by Marcos Alonso. However, Federico Valverde and Endrick shone in extra time, securing Real Madrid`s progression to the next round. Despite later losing the Copa del Rey final to Barcelona, this victory against Celta Vigo was a notable positive moment in Real Madrid`s season.
Coach`s Perspective
With widespread knowledge that Ancelotti and Real Madrid are set to part ways at the end of the season, the coach commented on his future ahead of the Celta Vigo match. Ancelotti stated he would not disclose his next move until after the season concludes on May 25. Although under contract until 2026, it is expected that he will reach an agreement with Real Madrid to terminate the contract after the current season.
“I have a lot of affection for my club, my players and the fans, and at the same time, respect,” Ancelotti said. “I`ll talk about my future on May 25, and not before … I don`t have to talk now about what might happen on May 25.”
The prevailing expectation is that Ancelotti will take the Brazil national team job after the season, though it remains unclear if this will occur before or after the Club World Cup in which Real Madrid is scheduled to participate this summer.
Expected Lineups
Real Madrid: Thibaut Courtois, Fran Garcia, Raul Asencio, Aurelien Tchouameni, Lucas Vazquez, Jude Bellingham, Dani Ceballos, Arda Guler, Federico Valverde, Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior
Celta Vigo: Vicente Guaita, Sergio Carreira, Javi Rodriguez, Yoel Lago, Marcos Alonso, Oscar Mingueza, Williot Swedberg, Ilaix Moriba, Fran Beltran, Pablo Duran, Borja Iglesias
Key Player to Watch
Aurelien Tchouameni, Real Madrid: While Real Madrid has conceded fewer goals than Barcelona this season, they have also scored nearly 30 fewer. This disparity highlights the importance of Real Madrid`s defense maintaining a solid structure. Los Blancos have allowed goals in four of their last six matches. Without Antonio Rudiger, the defense faces a difficult challenge, particularly in containing Celta Vigo`s Borja Iglesias. Rudiger`s physicality and ability to disrupt opponents will be missed. Playing alongside the young Raul Asencio, Tchouameni will need to step up, even if playing slightly out of his natural position.
Narrative to Observe
Can Real Madrid Respond?: In La Liga, the psychological battle between Barcelona and Real Madrid is often influenced by which team plays first each week. Real Madrid may require Barcelona to drop points, but with the El Clásico fixture approaching, they must avoid overlooking Celta Vigo. Celta is capable of causing problems if given space, and Rudiger`s absence in the Real Madrid defense may encourage Celta Vigo to push forward more assertively.
Match Prediction
With Jude Bellingham`s red card suspension overturned, Real Madrid`s attack should be capable of finding the net against Celta. Supported by Kylian Mbappe, their offensive pressure is likely to be significant. Even if they cannot secure a clean sheet, Real Madrid is expected to do just enough to earn a victory, keeping the league title race reasonably close ahead of their match against Barcelona next week. Pick: Real Madrid 2, Celta Vigo 1
