Real Madrid rocked at home by Celta Vigo, nine-man finish and an injury blow
A seismic night at the Bernabéu
I was inside the Bernabéu when the shock took hold. Real Madrid fell 0 to 2 to Celta Vigo, a result that felt louder with every passing minute. It was Celta’s first win here in 19 years. The white shirts pushed. The white shirts pressed. Celta stayed calm, then struck with precision.
The turning point arrived after the break. Swedish substitute Williot Swedberg changed the match with a daring back-heel in the 53rd minute. Real Madrid chased the game from there. They lost discipline, then lost players. And they lost Éder Militão to a serious hamstring injury that quieted the stadium in an instant.
Celta claim their first win at the Bernabéu in 19 years, a landmark result that resets the tone of La Liga’s title race.
Swedberg seizes the moment
Celta were patient and organized, then they found the spark off the bench. Swedberg arrived with sharp movement and clear ideas. His first goal was a statement. It came at the near post, a quick back-heel that caught Andriy Lunin flat-footed. You could feel the disbelief.
Real kept the ball and pushed numbers forward. That only gave Celta more space to attack. In stoppage time, Swedberg struck again, this time a composed finish into the corner. Two shots, two goals, a stunning cameo. The 19-year wait ended with a Swedish flourish.
Key moments
- 53 minutes, Swedberg’s back-heel puts Celta ahead
- Éder Militão forced off with a hamstring injury
- Fran García sent off as tempers flare
- Álvaro Carreras sees red late as Real finish with nine
- Stoppage time, Swedberg adds the second to seal it
Discipline collapses, injury crisis deepens
The scoreline hurts. The fallout may hurt more. Militão’s injury is serious, and it piles onto a thin back line before a huge week. He pulled up in the first half. He tried to walk it off. He could not. The medical staff signaled quickly. This looked like weeks, not days.
Then came the cards. Fran García saw red as frustration boiled over. Álvaro Carreras followed with another dismissal for a reckless challenge. That left Real with nine men and no way back. It was a harsh snapshot of a team losing its grip on a tense night.
Real finish with nine men and lose Militão to a hamstring injury, a double blow before Manchester City midweek.
Tactics under the microscope for Xabi Alonso
This defeat exposes soft spots that have been building. The structure without the ball was stretched, and the fullbacks were often isolated. With Militão off, Real lacked height and recovery pace in transition. Celta picked those gaps with smart passes into the channels.
On the ball, Real lacked rhythm between lines. The forwards made runs, but the timing was off. Crossing became a habit, not a weapon. Celta’s center backs cleared, reset, and waited for mistakes. The bench changes brought energy, but not control. That is the bigger worry.
Alonso now faces a hard choice. Does he push the line high and risk space behind, or drop and protect a patched-up back four. With City looming, the solution must be clear and fast. [IMAGE_2]
The title picture and the City test
This loss hands momentum away. The league leaders will feel the lift, and Real have given up a rare home result at the worst time. The gap at the top is not fatal in December, but it is heavy. The room for error shrinks.
The City tie now carries more weight. Fitness, discipline, and balance will decide it. Without Militão, Real need a leader in the back line. They also need composure. Two reds at home is not a habit they can afford in Europe.
If there is a positive, it is the response this can trigger. The Bernabéu has a long memory and a short fuse. Real Madrid often bounce back with force after nights like this. The question is who steps up and how quickly.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who scored for Celta Vigo?
A: Williot Swedberg scored both goals after coming on as a substitute.
Q: Why did Real Madrid finish with nine players?
A: Fran García and Álvaro Carreras were both sent off in the second half.
Q: What is the latest on Éder Militão?
A: He suffered a serious hamstring injury and faces time out, with tests to confirm the length.
Q: What does this mean for the title race?
A: Real Madrid lose ground and face mounting pressure to respond quickly in the next few league matches.
Q: How does this affect the Manchester City match?
A: It adds tactical and selection problems for Xabi Alonso, especially in defense, and increases the pressure to deliver.
This was a shock that echoed long after full time. Celta were brave and clinical. Real were ragged and short-handed. The result will linger, but the response will define the season. The next week, with City ahead, will tell us if this was a stumble or a crack.
