Real Madrid vs Celta: Final Training & Injury Update | La Liga

Balaídos, Vigo – Real Madrid suffered a surprising defeat at the hands of Celta Vigo on Sunday, December 7th, 2025, falling 2-0 in a match marked by red cards and a resilient performance from the home side. The loss, coming after back-to-back league defeats against Osasuna and Getafe, adds further pressure to Los Blancos as they chase Barcelona at the top of the La Liga table.

Williot Swedberg proved to be the difference-maker for Celta, scoring both goals. The first came in the 53rd minute, a close-range right-footed shot assisted by Iago Aspas following a swift counterattack. Swedberg doubled the lead in the 90th minute, capitalizing on a through ball from Aspas to slot the ball past Thibaut Courtois.

The match took a dramatic turn in the final minutes as Real Madrid’s discipline crumbled. Álvaro Carreras received both a yellow and a red card in the 90th minute, followed quickly by a yellow card for Federico Valverde and a red card for Carreras again, leaving Real Madrid with nine men. Rodrygo also saw yellow in the chaos.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Real Madrid pushed for a late goal. Iago Aspas had a chance to extend Celta’s lead further in added time, but his long-range effort was saved by Courtois. Aurélien Tchouaméni also had a header saved by Ionut Radu in the Celta goal.

The defeat at Balaídos represents a significant setback for Real Madrid, who are now four points behind league leaders Barcelona. While they maintain a strong away record having claimed 27 points from 13 games prior to this match, this result raises questions about their consistency and ability to overcome adversity. Celta Vigo, meanwhile, continue their impressive run of form, having won their last four matches in all competitions, including both legs of their Europa League playoff against PAOK. They are now preparing for a round of 16 clash against Lyon.

Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso made several changes to the starting lineup, with Courtois, Á. Carreras, E. Militão, Asencio, Fran García, Arda Güler, Tchouameni, Valverde, Bellingham, Mbappé, and Vini Jr. All featuring. Substitutions were made throughout the second half, including Rodrygo, D. Ceballos, Camavinga, Brahim, Gonzalo, Mastantuono, Lunin, and Endrick, but none could alter the course of the match.

Celta Vigo, under Claudio Giraldez, fielded a 3-4-2-1 formation. Williot and Borja Iglesias led the attack, supported by Iago Aspas. Substitutions for Celta included Iago Aspas replacing Borja Iglesias, and Fran Beltrán coming on for Miguel Román.

The match was played in front of a crowd of 74,511 at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. The officiating team consisted of Alejandro Quintero González, José David Martínez Montalbán, Jorge Figueroa Vázquez, Daniel Jesús Trujillo Suárez, Álvaro Granel Peiró, and José Francisco García Lozano.

Several Real Madrid players are currently sidelined with injuries. Alaba and Carreras trained indoors, while Bellingham, Ceballos, Mbappé, and Militão continue their recovery processes. Camavinga and Asencio did participate in part of the training session with the group, suggesting they are nearing a return to full fitness.

Real Madrid will be looking to bounce back from this disappointing result when they return to action. The team carried out their final training session at the Ciudad Real Madrid before traveling to Balaídos, focusing on mobility, reaction speed, rondos, tactical perform, possession drills, finishing drills, and free-kick practice. However, the performance on Sunday suggests that more than just tactical adjustments may be needed to address the team’s recent struggles.

Celta Vigo’s victory over Real Madrid is a testament to their improved form and tactical discipline. They have proven to be a challenging opponent for the Spanish giants, having also secured a 2-0 win at the Bernabéu earlier in the season. This latest result will undoubtedly boost their confidence as they continue to push for a European qualification spot.