Real Madrid survived a late scare however saved tempo with chief Barcelona once more on Sunday (May 4, 2025), ahead of their Spanish league “clasico” subsequent weekend.
Kylian Mbappé scored in every half as Madrid held on to beat Celta Vigo 3-2 and stay 4 points behind the Catalan rival going into subsequent Sunday’s match in Barcelona.
“La Liga is in Barcelona’s hands, but we’ll have more chances if we’re able to win,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti mentioned.
“It’s a great opportunity. We’re going to prepare well for Sunday’s game, which I’m not saying will be decisive, but almost.”
Arda Güler additionally scored for Madrid, which opened a 3-0 lead early in the second half however noticed Celta get again into the sport towards the top of the match on the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
Celta had a pair of nice probabilities to full its comeback, together with a shot by Pablo Durán that stopped simply brief of the aim line after a deflection by Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in the 78th minute. Courtois had to make a pair of saves close to the top to safe the win.
“We did very well for an hour, we could have managed the lead a little better, but in the end it was a nice win,” Ancelotti mentioned.
Barcelona got here from behind to defeat last-placed Valladolid 2-1 on Saturday, when coach Hansi Flick rested most of the crew’s common starters ahead of its Champions League semifinal match at Inter Milan on Tuesday. Barcelona and Inter drew 3-3 in the primary leg.
Madrid will get a scare
Güler put Madrid ahead with a shot into the highest nook in the thirty third, and Mbappé scored in the thirty ninth — additionally discovering the highest nook — and in a breakaway in the forty eighth. The France star hadn’t scored in the league since March.
The match appeared below management till Javi Rodríguez pulled the guests nearer in the 69th and Williot Swedberg scored Celta’s second aim in the 76th.
A pair of minutes later, Durán’s shot agonizingly stopped simply in entrance of the aim line after the ball picked up some backspin because it struck Courtois.
“It was a shame,” Celta striker Borja Iglesias mentioned. “We had our chances. That shot by Pablo almost went in. It wasn’t meant to be.”
Celta, which was coming off a 3-0 win over Villarreal, stayed in seventh place.
There have been just a few jeers from the Bernabeu crowd as Madrid struggled to maintain on to its lead late in the sport.
All the arrogance in the world’
It was the fourth straight league win for Madrid, which final Saturday misplaced the Copa del Rey closing to Barcelona and final month was eradicated by Arsenal in the quarterfinals of the Champions League.
“We played the last game (against Barcelona) a week ago. It was a very competitive game and we came close to winning,” Ancelotti said. “We don’t have to invent a lot of things. We’re going to play a serious game. It’s very important. We’re going to play with all the confidence in the world. Despite all the difficulties, we’re there and to be able to fight this match is something nice.”
He mentioned having Mbappé in prime kind might be key.
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Forward Rodrygo was not included in the squad as a result of of sickness.
Basque Country derby draw
The Basque Country derby ended in a 0-0 draw between Athletic Bilbao and host Real Sociedad.
Athletic is three points ahead of fifth-placed Villarreal and six points behind third-placed Atletico Madrid. Athletic was coming off a 3-0 home loss to Manchester United in the first leg of the Europa League semifinals.
Midtable Sociedad is winless in four matches.
Also Sunday, 15th-placed Sevilla drew 2-2 with second-to-last Leganes, while sixth-placed Real Betis beat 14th-placed Espanyol 2-1.
Published – May 05, 2025 12:02 pm IST
