Two Players Sent Off for Real Madrid in Loss to Celta
Real Madrid endured a heavy 2-0 defeat at home against Celta Vigo in La Liga on Sunday, concluding the fixture with just nine players after receiving red cards to Fran Garcia and Alvaro Carreras.
Williot Swedberg netted a brace in the second period for Celta, marking Madrid's second league loss this season and allowing rivals Barcelona to extend their lead at the summit of La Liga by four points.
Xabi Alonso's team, sitting in second position, also saw defender Eder Militao sidelined by injury during a challenging evening in the Spanish capital, ahead of their upcoming Champions League clash with Manchester City on Wednesday.
Madrid were returning to home action for their first game at the Bernabeu since hosting an NFL event, which had forced six away fixtures across competitions, and this result forms part of a dismal streak where they have secured only one victory in their past five league outings.
"We must move on quickly. It is just three points," insisted Alonso.
"The Champions League match versus City offers a chance to respond and shake off this disappointment."
Ahead of the enticing European showdown with Erling Haaland's City, Alonso opted to give centre-back Antonio Rudiger a rest, deploying Carreras in central defence instead.
Rudiger's respite proved brief, as the German international entered the fray around the midpoint of the opening half following Militao's injury setback.
Raul Asencio filled the right-back role, with Trent Alexander-Arnold out for two months due to a thigh problem, highlighting a difficult adjustment period in Madrid for the ex-Liverpool full-back.
Celta Vigo's keeper Ionut Radu produced several strong stops during the first half, denying a header from Jude Bellingham and a long-range strike by Arda Guler.
Madrid found it hard to generate clear threats, as Celta employed a compact low block that restricted space for key attackers Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior.
Guler squandered Madrid's clearest opportunity before the break, firing wide with a volley after Mbappe laid the ball off to him.
Radu also blocked Vinicius following a clever pass from Aurelien Tchouameni that split the defence, exposing a momentary lapse in Celta's backline.
The Romanian shot-stopper repelled a powerful long shot from Fede Valverde shortly after the interval, prior to Celta shocking the home crowd.
Bryan Zaragoza delivered a cross from the left flank, enabling Swedberg to execute a deft flicked effort past Thibaut Courtois and put the visitors in front.
Heads Lost
Madrid appeared rattled, especially Bellingham who suffered a facial cut in a challenge with Celta forward Borja Iglesias, resulting in blood streaming down his face.
Compounding the woes, Fran Garcia accumulated two bookings within 60 seconds, the latter for a reckless challenge on Swedberg, reducing Los Blancos to ten men for the closing stages.
Mbappe lofted a shot over Radu that clipped the top of the net, while substitute Gonzalo Garcia nodded narrowly past the post as Madrid hunted a leveller that never materialised.
Carreras received his marching orders in added time, dismissed for dissent after arguing with official Alejandro Quintero.
"I was not impressed with the officiating," commented Alonso.
Reduced to nine and in chaos, Madrid conceded again as Swedberg evaded Courtois and slotted home to seal the victory.
"(This was) outstanding... we managed the game effectively, capitalised on some fortune with our opportunities, yet performed solidly," Celta's Iglesias remarked to Movistar.
"Given their squad's strength and talent, matching them is tough, but we anticipated well, controlled possession, dominated their territory, and delivered an excellent display."
Espanyol maintained their impressive early-season form by securing a 1-0 triumph over Rayo Vallecano, rising to fifth in the standings.
Roberto Fernandez converted a first-half spot-kick for Manolo Gonzalez's outfit at the RCDE Stadium in Cornella, extending their winning league run to three matches.
Espanyol sit four points behind fourth-placed Atletico Madrid, with an additional game in hand compared to Diego Simeone's side.