Celta Vigo 1-2 Real Madrid: Iglesias 25; Tchouameni 11, Valverde 90+4
Real Madrid snatched a dramatic victory against Celta Vigo on Saturday night, as Federico Valverde’s deflected strike in stoppage time secured a 2-1 win to prevent their La Liga title aspirations from suffering another heavy blow.
Coming into the match on the back of consecutive defeats to Osasuna and Getafe that had widened the gap to league leaders Barcelona to four points, Alvaro Arbeloa’s side were well aware that anything less than a win would be a disaster.
But after Borja Iglesias cancelled out Aurelien Tchouameni’s early opener, the makeshift lineup, still depleted by the absence of injured stars Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham, among others, looked to be heading for another frustrating result until Valverde’s moment of fortune in the 94th minute.
The night had started with promise for the visitors. After Iglesias forced a save from Thibaut Courtois in the opening stages, Madrid grew into the game. Vinicius Junior, fed by Trent Alexander-Arnold, could only hit the post before Tchouameni swept home from Arda Guler’s cutback in the 11th minute.
Just 14 minutes later, a routine searching ball down the Celta left exposed Alexander-Arnold, who was easily outmuscled and outmanoeuvred by Williot Swedberg. The Swedish winger stormed into the area, cut back, and squared for Iglesias to find the equaliser.
The second half saw Madrid control possession but there was little out of it. Vinicius tested goalkeeper Andrei Radu and Madrid wanted a penalty after Celta’s Ferran Jutgla handled the ball, but Cesar Palacios had also committed a foul in the buildup and Celta had reprieve.
Moments later, it was Madrid’s turn to be fortune when veteran Iago Aspas cut inside and saw his low shot beat Courtois but hit the post. It looked all over for Madrid until Valverde’s tentative shot took a deflection off Marcos Alonso and the visitors could celebrate.
