Real Madrid, the league’s top team, recovered their seven-point lead after defeating struggling Celta Vigo 4-0 at home thanks to two own goals.
Halfway through the first half at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday, Vinicius Junior headed in a rebound after Antonio Rudiger’s header at the second attempt. However, a late collapse by Celta, guided by former Real Madrid manager Rafa Benitez, occurred.
With eleven minutes remaining, Rudiger struck another header against the bar, which deflected off Celta custodian Vicente Guaita and crossed the line for an own goal, effectively giving the home team the win.
After that, Guaita and Carlos Dominguez confused each other, resulting in the defender putting a tease-worthy cross from Vinicius into his own goal.
In stoppage time, Turkish sensation Arda Guler—whose first season in Spain has been marred by injuries—scored his maiden goal for Real Madrid off the bench as Carlo Ancelotti’s team overcame Jude Bellingham’s suspension.
“I’m doing my best to be happy.” I want to continue playing like this because the finest games of the season are still to come. I’m hoping to avoid injuries, which have limited me a little bit this season,” Vinicius said on Real Madrid TV.
With 16 goals this season, Bellingham leads the league in scoring. However, his appeal against the England international’s two-match suspension for receiving a red card against Valencia last weekend was denied, so he was forced to watch from the stands.
Despite their lacklustre performance in Wednesday’s 1-1 tie with RB Leipzig, Madrid advanced to the Champions League quarterfinals 2-1 overall.
