Real Madrid’s title chase took a big blow as they fell to a 2-0 home defeat against Celta Vigo, finishing the match with only nine men. The loss leaves Xabi Alonso’s side four points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona, marking their first defeat at the Santiago Bernabéu against Celta in 19 years.
Substitute Williot Swedberg proved to be the difference, scoring twice in the second half, including a clever flicked finish in the 53rd minute and a composed stoppage-time strike to seal the victory.
The match unraveled for the hosts in the second half. Following Swedberg's opener, Real's attempts to equalize were hampered when Fran Garcia received two yellow cards within a minute, reducing them to ten men in the 64th minute.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Madrid pushed for a leveler but were frustrated by the defense and goalkeeper Ionut Radu, who made crucial saves to deny Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe.
The situation worsened in stoppage time when Alvaro Carreras was sent off for dissent, receiving a second yellow card as frustrations boiled over.
Manager Xabi Alonso expressed his dissatisfaction with both the result and the officiating. "I didn't like the refereeing performance," Alonso said. "With the card for Álvaro, I don't know, that was very debatable... I didn't like that, it got out of control."
He also acknowledged the team's poor form, having won only one of their last five league games, and emphasized the need to regroup quickly ahead of their midweek Champions League clash with Manchester City. "We have to try and turn the page as quickly as possible. It's only three points," he added.
Real Madrid’s woes were compounded by an injury to defender Eder Militao, who was forced off with a hamstring problem in the 23rd minute. This adds to the defensive crisis for Alonso, who is already without Trent Alexander-Arnold due to a thigh injury.
Celta Vigo, meanwhile, celebrated a rare clean sheet and a jump from 14th to 10th in the standings. Striker Borja Iglesias praised his team's disciplined performance, stating, "With the team they have and their quality, it's difficult to match them, but we read the game well."
The defeat ends Madrid's perfect home record in the league this season and piles pressure on Alonso amid reports of talks with club president Florentino Perez regarding the team's dip in form. With Barcelona extending their lead at the top, Real Madrid now face a critical period to salvage their domestic campaign while navigating tough European fixtures.