Celta’s missed chances were unforgivable in their 1:2 loss to Real Madrid. Real is adjusting without Carvajal, their captain, sidelined for rest of season.
In his absence, Lucas Vazquez stepped in at right-back. He ventured forward frequently, supported by Tchouameni staying back, but Real almost paid for their bold approach early on.
In 7th minute, Celta tore through Real’s defense with two quick passes, leaving Svedberg one-on-one with Courtois. The Swedish forward struck well, but Courtois made a crucial save, coming off his line and stopping ball with his foot.
Real controlled possession, as expected, showing an intensity in their press that hasn’t always been typical this season. They created several decent opportunities and struck first when it seemed Celta was under no immediate threat.
In the 20th minute, ball fell to Mbappe, who fired a long-range shot. Though goalkeepers usually handle attempts from that distance, ball arced perfectly into top corner, out of reach.
Real’s momentum didn’t wane after goal, but problems emerged. Near end of first half, Vinicius attempted a solo dribble and took a poor shot instead of passing to Bellingham, who was waiting for a cross. The Englishman’s frustration was clear as he gestured angrily.
At start of the second half, Celta equalized. Svedberg again found himself one-on-one with Courtois, but this time, he finished. Shockingly, he was left completely unmarked in center of the penalty area.
Lucas Vazquez arrived too late, though it’s unclear if someone else should have been covering that space. It seemed entire defense was slow to react.
Modric then came on, wearing captain’s armband. At 39 years and 40 days old, he became Real Madrid’s oldest player in history. His impact was immediate. He danced around opponents, who could only stop him by fouling, and even dropped back to help in defense.
His most crucial contribution came when he set up Vinicius for winning goal. Booed throughout the game, Vinicius coolly rounded goalkeeper and tapped into an open net. His celebration, a dance in front of the crowd, was accompanied by him proudly showing Real Madrid crest on his shirt.
In stoppage time, Celta had one last chance to equalize, but Duvikas squandered it, missing what could have been a game-tying goal. Real Madrid’s hard-fought victory sets them up well for upcoming Clasico.