Nine-man Real Madrid slump to 2-0 home defeat against Celta Vigo

Real Madrid fell to a 2-0 home defeat to Celta Vigo on Sunday in La Liga, finishing the match with nine players after Fran García and Álvaro Carreras were both sent off. The result leaves Madrid four points behind leaders Barcelona and extends their poor run of league form.

Williot Swedberg scored twice in the second half to give Celta a deserved win at the Santiago Bernabéu, while Madrid also lost Eder Militao to injury in the first period.

Madrid were back at home after six consecutive away fixtures, a stretch in which they have struggled for rhythm. With a Champions League meeting with Manchester City coming up on Wednesday, Xabi Alonso rotated his squad and rested Antonio Rüdiger. But the German defender was called into action midway through the first half after Militao pulled up injured.

Raúl Asencio again started at right-back with Trent Alexander-Arnold still out with a thigh injury.

Madrid dominated possession but created limited danger before the break. Celta goalkeeper Ionuț Radu kept out a Jude Bellingham header and denied Arda Güler from distance. Güler later missed Madrid’s best chance of the half, firing wide from Mbappé’s cutback, while Vinícius Júnior was also denied after being played through by Aurélien Tchouaméni.

Celta went ahead early in the second half when Bryan Zaragoza crossed from the left and Swedberg guided a clever flick past Thibaut Courtois. Moments later, Madrid were reduced to 10 men as Fran García collected two yellow cards inside a minute, the second for a foul on Swedberg.

Mbappé almost equalised with a lob that landed on the roof of the net, and substitute Gonzalo García headed just wide, but Carreras was then shown a straight red for dissent in stoppage time as Madrid’s frustration grew.

With Madrid down to nine men, Celta wrapped up the points when Swedberg rounded Courtois and slotted into an empty net.

Espanyol moved up to fifth after a 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano, securing a third straight league victory. Roberto Fernández converted a first-half penalty at the RCDE Stadium, while Rayo’s Unai López was sent off early in the second half for a second booking.

Espanyol also finished with 10 men when Tyrhys Dolan received a late second yellow, but the hosts held on and sit four points behind fourth-placed Atlético Madrid with a game in hand.