New Delhi: Kylian Mbappe continues to roll on his debut season with Real Madrid as he hit another brace and helped Los Blancos win 3-2 over Celta Vigo. With Barcelona setting the pace at the top of LaLiga, Carlo Ancelotti’s men knew there was no room for error. And while they had some nervy moments early on, the quality of individuals once again tilted the balance in favour of Los Blancos.
The match began with an air of urgency from both sides. Real Madrid needed three points to stay on the heels of the league leaders while Celta Vigo looked up for the challenge in the opening minutes. In fact, it was the visitors who carved out a couple of promising chances early on. However, their wastefulness in front of the goal proved costly as the home side gradually found their rhythm.
It took a moment of individual brilliance to break the deadlock. Arda Gler showcased flashes of his creative flair and caught Celta off guard with a clever short-corner routine. With very little backlift, the youngster rifled the ball into the top corner, leaving Vicente Guaita with no chance.
That goal seemed to breathe life into Madrid’s play. They began to probe more patiently, waiting for gaps to appear. The second came as Kylian Mbappe finished off his move with a composed strike past Guaita to double Madrid’s lead before halftime.
Madrid picked up where they left off as Mbappe bagged his second of the night, A cool finish once again, to give the hosts what looked like an unassailable 3-0 lead. He also became the first player to reach 40 goal contributions in his debut season for Real Madrid since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009. But just as the home fans began to relax, Celta came roaring back.
🏁 @RealMadrid 3-2 @RCCelta
⚽ 33′ @10ardaguler
⚽ 39′ @KMbappe
⚽ 48′ @KMbappe
⚽ 69′ Javi Rodríguez
⚽ 76′ Williot
👉 @Emirates pic.twitter.com/a7zycyWLn4— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) May 4, 2025
Celta comeback hampered
Jorgen Strand Larsen found Rodriguez in the box, who fired home from close range to pull one back. Then, Iago Aspas produced a moment of magic, threading a perfect pass to Williot Swedberg, who finished brilliantly to make it 3-2 with plenty of time left on the clock.
The match suddenly shifted gears from what seemed to be a comfortable evening to an end-to-end shootout. Madrid had to dig deep to claim three points. Thibaut Courtois was called into action several times, pulling off sharp saves to deny a rampant Celta side from finding an equaliser. At the other end, Guaita also kept busy as Madrid sought a fourth to calm nerves.
In the end, the final whistle was a welcome relief for Ancelotti and his players. Madrid’s perfect record at home when scoring first in LaLiga this season remains intact. And crucially, with the Clasico looming, they keep the pressure firmly on Barcelona. For Celta Vigo, a gutsy performance ends in frustration, but they’ll take positives into their upcoming clash with Sevilla as they continue their push for European qualification.
Real Madrid edge past Celta Vigo 3-2 in a LaLiga thriller at the Santiago Bernabeu, surviving a late comeback to stay in the title race ahead of El Clasico. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
