Real Madrid moved seven points clear at the top of LaLiga after beating Celta Vigo 4-0 at the Bernabeu Stadium.

Vinicius Junior’s close-range finish gave Real a half-time lead and own goals from goalkeeper Vicente Guaita and Carlos Dominguez put Carlo Ancelotti’s side, without the suspended Jude Bellingham, in full control.

Turkey midfielder Arda Guler stepped off the bench to score his first goal for the club in stoppage time as Los Blancos extended their unbeaten league run to 22 matches.

Second-placed Girona had closed the gap to four points on Saturday by beating Osasuna 2-0 at home, but once Vinicius Junior opened the scoring in the 21st minute following a corner, Real dominated the match.

Eduardo Camavinga went close on three occasions to extending Real’s lead and Rodrygo forced Guaita into a reflex save before the break.

Celta had been limited to blocked shots from Manu Sanchez and Luca de la Torre, but they threatened through Jorgen Strand Larsen’s effort early in the second period.

Guaita saved again from Brahim Diaz and Federico Valverde flashed a shot wide before the Celta keeper denied both Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior.

Real were rewarded for their pressure with a second goal in the 79th minute when Antonio Rudiger’s header struck the crossbar and deflected in off Guaita.

Celta substitute Dominguez turned the ball past his own keeper in the closing stages and in the fourth minute of added time Guler, a late replacement for Vinicius Junior, steered home the fourth goal.

The Turkey international burst on to Dani Ceballos’ through-ball, knocked the ball around Guaita and buried his shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the six-yard box.

Real returned to winning ways after being held by Valencia and RB Leipzig in their previous two matches to stretch their advantage over Girona and open up an eight-point lead over third-placed Barcelona.

Real Madrid continue fight against ‘inappropriate’ Jude Bellingham ban

Real Madrid are continuing their fight against Jude Bellingham’s red card with boss Carlo Ancelotti calling his two-match ban “overzealous and inappropriate”.

The 20-year-old England midfielder was sent off against Valencia last weekend after he remonstrated with referee Jesus Gil Manzano, who blew for full-time seconds before Bellingham headed in what would have been a winner for Real.

Madrid saw an initial appeal against a two-match suspension rejected by the Spanish Football Federation’s (RFEF) competitions committee on Friday.

Bellingham has not been named in Madrid’s 20-man squad for Sunday’s LaLiga visit of Celta Vigo but the league leaders are not letting the issue lie and, according to reports, have launched an appeal with Spain’s sports administrative court TAD (Tribunal Administrativo del Deporte).

“We’ve appealed because we believe the sanction is overzealous and inappropriate,” Ancelotti said on the club’s official website on Saturday.

“He wasn’t insulting anyone, as is reflected in the report.

“They have looked at the way he approached the referee and I hope they haven’t singled him out because Bellingham protests in the same way as anyone else, in fact there are lots who do far worse.

“We think the sanction is not correct, and that’s why we have appealed.”

Ancelotti has also defended Vinicius Jr, who has attracted criticism for his recent performances.

“I’ve looked back at the statistics and I’ve never seen a player who has been so poorly treated,” the Italian said.

“He gets kicked, insulted, jeered… He scores goals and sets them up. I think everyone should rethink their attitudes towards Vini Jr.

“Never before has a player with that level of talent been so harshly treated. When something needs to be looked at, we don’t need to be making t-shirts.”

Despite being denied victory against Valencia, Madrid still hold a comfortable lead at the top of the table but Ancelotti admits his side, who have drawn three of their last four games in all competitions, have taken their “foot off the gas” in recent weeks.

“Following the Girona match, which was our best performance of the season, we’ve struggled and perhaps we’ve stepped our foot off the gas a bit,” he said.

“We have to think about where we haven’t been doing things so well, that’s how we’ll improve. We’re not concerned, we evaluate things in the most critical manner and we have to improve.

“We lacked intensity and a good attitude on Wednesday and tomorrow we have to make sure we get those things right.”

Celta make the trip to the Bernabeu lying 17th in the LaLiga standings but boosted by their 1-0 home win over Almeria last time out.

Home
/
Real Madrid
Real Madrid predicted lineup vs Celta Vigo - La Liga
Real Madrid have an eight-point lead at the top of La Liga
Jude Bellingham is suspended for two domestic fixtures
Eder Militao back in training after tearing ACL

By James Cormack
Mar 8, 2024
Carlo Ancelotti will be hoping to oversee a quick improvement after his side scraped into the Champions League quarter-finals in midweek.

Real Madrid were inferior for large parts of their round of 16 tie with RB Leipzig, but a 1-1 draw in Wednesday's second leg was enough to see them through.

In truth, the La Liga leaders have failed to impress since claiming the Supercopa in January, although they haven't needed to be a vintage iteration this term to top the division.

A home game against Celta Vigo is next on Ancelotti's agenda and here's how he could set Madrid up on Sunday evening.

Real Madrid vs Celta Vigo - La Liga: TV channel, team news, lineups and prediction
Real Madrid predicted lineup vs Celta Vigo (4-3-1-2)
Vinicius Jr, Daniel Carvajal
Real Madrid have an eight-point lead at the top of La Liga / Jean Catuffe/GettyImages
GK: Andriy Lunin - Lunin played a key role in Madrid's Champions League progression and has been one of the most impressive keepers in the competition this season. He'll remain the club's number one until Thibaut Courtois returns next month.

RB: Dani Carvajal - The Spaniard has endured an up-and-down last couple of outings and could be rested in favour of Lucas Vazquez. However, Ancelotti will likely continue with Carvajal on Sunday.

CB: Antonio Rudiger - Rudiger has been a constant in the Madrid backline when fit and available. That won't change this weekend.

CB: Nacho Fernandez - Eder Militao is on the comeback trail and is set to be back in action soon. The Brazilian will partner Rudiger for the run-in, but Nacho will keep his place for now.

LB: Fran Garcia - He may not rotate at right-back, but there should be a switch here with Spaniard Garcia replacing Ferland Mendy.

CM: Aurelien Tchouameni - The Frenchman has showed promise at centre-back but hasn't quite imposed himself in the middle of the park this season.

CM: Federico Valverde - The ubiquitous Uruguayan could earn some respite soon, but that breather won't arrive this weekend.

CM: Luka Modric - The 38-year-old star has merely played a bit-part role this term, but there's no doubt he can still perform at the highest level. Modric could earn a rare start on Sunday if Ancelotti rotates.

AM: Brahim Diaz - Jude Bellingham's two-game suspension means Brahim will get another chance to wreak havoc from between the lines.

ST: Vinicius Junior - The Brazilian has scored three times in his previous two games and is playing at a supreme level.

ST: Joselu - A handy option for Ancelotti this term, the Spanish target man should be included to make up for Bellingham's absence. Madrid could do with a physical presence against Celta's low block.

READ THE LATEST REAL MADRID NEWS, TRANSFER RUMOURS & GOSSIP
•
Real Madrid 4-0 Celta Vigo: Player ratings as Los Blancos cruise to La Liga win
•
Why Jose Mourinho was at the Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou fight
•
Carlo Ancelotti launches passionate defence of Vinicius Junior
•
Barcelona icon explains why things have gone wrong for Xavi
•
Football transfer rumours: Haaland wants Real Madrid release clause; Man Utd eye £40m sensation
Related Topics
Real Madrid CF
La Liga
Champions League