Following Barcelona`s victory on Saturday, Real Madrid is under pressure to secure a win against Celta Vigo to maintain their pursuit in La Liga. A win would narrow the gap to four points ahead of a crucial direct encounter scheduled for May 11. It has been a challenging season for Real Madrid, and any further dropped points could significantly diminish their title hopes, with Barcelona currently holding a strong position.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti faces difficulties not only regarding his own future, as he is expected to leave the club at the end of the season, but also due to team suspensions and injuries. David Alaba is sidelined for the rest of the season. Antonio Rudiger has received a six-match suspension, effectively ending his Real Madrid season and ruling him out for the opening match of the next campaign.
Match Details
- Date: Sunday, May 4
- Time: 8 a.m. ET
- Location: Estadio Santiago Bernabeu — Madrid, Spain
- Live Stream: ESPN+
- Odds: Real Madrid -250; Draw +425; Celta Vigo +550
Last Encounter
In their most recent meeting in the Copa del Rey, Celta Vigo pushed Real Madrid hard, taking the match to extra time before eventually losing after conceding three unanswered goals. Real Madrid had initially taken a 2-0 lead but conceded two goals late in regulation, including a penalty. However, Federico Valverde and Endrick delivered decisive performances in extra time to send Real Madrid through to the next round. Although Real Madrid later lost the Copa del Rey final to Barcelona, this victory was considered a positive moment in their season.
Manager`s Comments
With his departure widely anticipated at the season`s conclusion, Ancelotti addressed questions about his future leading up to the match. He stated he would announce his next steps after May 25. Despite being under contract until 2026, it is expected that he and Real Madrid will agree to terminate his contract after the current season.
“I have great affection for my club, my players and the fans, and at the same time, respect,” Ancelotti commented. “I will talk about my future on May 25, and not before… I don`t have to talk now about what might happen on May 25.”
Ancelotti is still widely linked with taking over the Brazil national team job after the season, although it remains unclear if this would occur before or after Real Madrid`s participation in the Club World Cup this summer.
Predicted Lineups
Real Madrid: Thibaut Courtois, Fran Garcia, Raul Asencio, Aurelien Tchouameni, Lucas Vazquez, Jude Bellingham, Dani Ceballos, Arda Guler, Federico Valverde, Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior
Celta Vigo: Vicente Guaita, Sergio Carreira, Javi Rodriguez, Yoel Lago, Marcos Alonso, Oscar Mingueza, Williot Swedberg, Ilaix Moriba, Fran Beltran, Pablo Duran, Borja Iglesias
Player Focus
Aurelien Tchouameni, Real Madrid: While Real Madrid has conceded fewer goals than Barcelona this season, they have also scored significantly fewer. This makes defensive solidity crucial. Real Madrid has allowed goals in four of their last six matches. Without Antonio Rudiger, the defense faces a tough test against Celta`s forward Borja Iglesias. Rudiger`s physical presence and ability to disrupt opponents will be missed, and Tchouameni will need to perform well, likely playing alongside a young defender like Asencio, despite possibly being out of his preferred position.
Key Narrative
Can Real Madrid Respond? The La Liga title race has become a week-to-week mental challenge dependent on who plays first. Real Madrid may need Barcelona to drop points, but they must not overlook Celta Vigo ahead of El Clásico. Celta is capable of causing problems if given space, and without key defenders, Real Madrid`s backline could be vulnerable.
Prediction
With Jude Bellingham`s red card suspension overturned, Real Madrid`s attack should be capable of securing the victory against Celta. With Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe leading the line, they are expected to apply significant pressure. Even if they don`t keep a clean sheet, Real Madrid should do just enough to earn the points and keep the pressure on Barcelona ahead of their meeting next week.
Predicted Score: Real Madrid 2, Celta Vigo 1
