Real Madrid vs Celta Vigo 0-2: La Liga – as it happened

Real Madrid endure a crushing 0-2 blow at the hands of Celta Vigo. The result leaves a four-point gap between Madrid and league leaders Barcelona.

The Madridistas will hope for a better show from here on in, with a few missteps along the way by their archrivals, if they are to salvage their league campaign.

We hope you enjoyed the coverage of this match, and on behalf of Al Jazeera, this is Rohan Sharma signing off.

FT: #RealMadridCelta 0-2

A huge win for @CeltaEnglish!🤯#LALIGAEASPORTS pic.twitter.com/3GnFRdqZS7

— LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) December 7, 2025

Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso spoke at the post-match news conference: “We’re all very angry. This is not the result, nor the match that we wanted to play.

“[Eder] Militao’s injury really hurt us. We couldn’t recover from it. The players’ effort and intensity tonight? Disappointing, to be honest.

“We were better with 10 men than with 11 tonight. Simply because with 10 men, at least we started running and working hard.

“We have to try to turn the page as quickly as possible. It’s just three points – there’s still a lot of the league games left.

“Can I turn the situation around? Of course. All together, all united. La Liga is still very long; we must look forward and turn this page.”

Asked about the calls for his dismissal after another loss, he said: “I’m not thinking of that, I’m just thinking of Wednesday’s game. We’re all united.

“Losing at home happens sometimes. It sucks, but it happens.

“The referee’s decisions have driven us crazy. The referee was itching to give the card to Álvaro Carreras. The refereeing has been very poor. The time-wasting – overall, I didn’t like the refereeing.

“We struggle breaking down deep blocks? Against these types of teams, we need to actually look for chances and work hard for them; we can’t wait for chances to come to us.

“We have to look forward together with the determination that we have. We all assume the blame. We’re all in this together. It’s everyone’s responsibility. The situation is tight due to the injuries. Every point is crucial.”

There is plenty to digest after this remarkable loss by Real Madrid.

Make sure to dive into our detailed match report for all the insights.

3 – Williot Swedberg is the first foreign player to score in three or more consecutive LaLiga matches against Real Madrid since Luis Suárez in October 2018 (also three). Favorite. pic.twitter.com/pqx86IGoK6

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) December 7, 2025

47 – Kylian Mbappé has created 47 chances in LaLiga 25/26, a record for a Real Madrid player after his first 16 games of a campaign in the competition since Mesut Özil in 2020/11 (55). Threat. pic.twitter.com/c6FrWfMMuB

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) December 7, 2025

We shift our focus to the Champions League this coming Tuesday, as European heavyweights Inter Milan and Liverpool prepare to do battle at the San Siro.

The blog is set to begin at 17:00 GMT, so make sure to tune in.

Next: #UCL MD6 as we face Inter Milan ✨ pic.twitter.com/iMFabMYVta

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 7, 2025

Celta Vigo forward Borja Iglesias shared his thoughts after the match: “They have got a lot of quality. It is difficult to play against them. We defended very well.

“The end of the game was pretty strange. There were a lot of situations, and then there were stoppages, and then some fouls. They then got a bit desperate.

“We are doing well on the road [It is Celta Vigo’s fourth away win this season]. It is difficult to explain.”

As a result of Madrid’s loss, Barcelona have now opened up a four-point gap at the top. Barcelona have 40 points, while Madrid have 36.

Barcelona also have a much healthier goal difference of 27, compared with Madrid’s 17.

Meanwhile, Celta Vigo improve to 10th place with 19 points.

With just one more match to go tomorrow between Osasuna and Levante, here are the updated match-day results:

• Oviedo 0-0 Mallorca
• Villareal 2-0 Getafe
• Alaves 1-0 Real Sociedad
• Real Betis 3-5 Barcelona
• Athletic Club 1-0 Atletico Madrid
• Elche 3-0 Girona
• Valencia 1-1 Sevilla
• Espanyol 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
• Real Madrid 0-2 Celta Vigo

A first loss to Celta Vigo at home in 19 years pushes Real Madrid’s title hopes into severe disarray.

Despite dominating in total shots (20 to nine) and possession at 62 percent, the hosts never quite got into top gear against a well-organised and disciplined Celta Vigo side.

Swedberg’s nonchalant finish set up the visitors quite well, and despite some chances produced, Garcia’s red card opened the game wide open.

Carreras’s send-off late in stoppage time proved to be the final straw, as Swedberg took advantage of a shell-shocked Madrid side to walk home Celta Vigo’s second goal.

Full-time: Real Madrid 0-2 Celta Vigo 

🏁 FT: @RealMadridEN 0-2 @CeltaEnglish
⚽️ 54′ Williot
⚽️ 90’+3′ Williot@Emirates pic.twitter.com/5QXz47O5eS

— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) December 7, 2025

A hollow Bernabeu hears the referee call time on what has been a drama-filled second half.

Full-time: Real Madrid 0-2 Celta Vigo 

Madrid’s loss of composure culminates in a second goal for Swedberg!

After making a deep run into the Madrid box soon after the resumption of play, the Swede plays a lovely one-two pass to Aspas, who returns the favour.

Swedberg is able to go past his marker, before sashaying past Courtois and walking the ball into the back of the net in the most casual fashion.

90+3 mins: Real Madrid 0-2 Celta Vigo 

After getting a yellow card a few minutes before, Carreras has talked himself into another yellow card.

The Madrid left-back was arguing about the position of a free kick, and may have used some rather choice words in the process.

That makes it two Madrid players sent off, and Real have completely lost the plot at the Bernabeu.

90+2 mins: Real Madrid 0-1 Celta Vigo

They continue to hold strong despite numerous advances by Madrid.

Meanwhile, the fourth official signals for five additional minutes of stoppage time.

90+1 mins: Real Madrid 0-1 Celta Vigo 

Tchouameni crosses it in from the left side, with Gonzalo rising high to try and head it towards a tight angle at the far post.

But the forward ends up glancing it just wide off the mark.

Soon after, Celta Vigo’s Iglesias is replaced by Iago Aspas.

88 mins: Real Madrid 0-1 Celta Vigo 

Rodrygo sends it in from the right side.

The ball finds Tchouameni, who is clear, but he heads it straight at Radu.

86 mins: Real Madrid 0-1 Celta Vigo 

Fran Beltran is brought on for Roman Gonzalez.

84 mins: Real Madrid 0-1 Celta Vigo 

He attacks a deflection on the right side with a strong strike at goal, but gets a tad too much elevation on it to trouble the keeper.

83 mins: Real Madrid 0-1 Celta Vigo 

He tries to curl a ball towards the back post from the left side, but is way off the mark.

Frustration continues to grow among the fans, as we are now inside 10 minutes of remaining time.

81 mins: Real Madrid 0-1 Celta Vigo 

Rodrygo sends it in from deep on the left flank. The ball bobbles dangerously around Carreras in the book, but he just can’t make any contact despite numerous swipes at the ball.

Celta Vigo are eventually able to get back the ball as they fashion a counter the other way.

79 mins: Real Madrid 0-1 Celta Vigo