Celta Vigo inflict defeat at Bernabeu as nine-man Madrid slip four points behind Barcelona

Real Madrid fell to a damaging defeat at the Bernabeu Stadium as Celta Vigo collected a rare win on Sunday.

Madrid ended the night with nine men, lost Eder Militao to injury, and failed to capitalise on a first half in which they created several clear chances that should have put them ahead.

The atmosphere shifted from frustration to disbelief as the match unravelled into a collapse that played directly into Celta’s hands.

Madrid controlled possession and territory for long spells before half-time but lacked the composure needed in decisive moments.

Jude Bellingham headed narrowly wide, Vinicius Junior tested Ionut Radu from distance, and Arda Guler missed the best opening when he dragged a shot wide from ten yards after being released in space.

The waste was compounded when Militao limped off with a suspected hamstring problem, leaving manager Xabi Alonso to reshuffle his defence far earlier than planned.

Celta sensed vulnerability and struck first seven minutes into the second half through Williot Swedberg.

Bryan Zaragoza created the opening with a sharp run and cross from the left, and Swedberg finished with a clever flick that caught Thibaut Courtois flat-footed.

It was a moment of quality that contrasted with Madrid’s lack of efficiency in front of goal.

The situation deteriorated further when Fran Garcia was sent off in the 64th minute after picking up two yellow cards in the space of a minute, forcing Madrid to chase the match with ten men.

Madrid responded by pushing numbers forward and forcing Celta deep, but struggled to produce chances of the same quality as earlier in the game.

Kylian Mbappe chipped narrowly over the bar, Bellingham sliced a half-chance wide, and the home crowd grew increasingly restless as a tense final period approached.

Alonso was booked on the touchline as frustration spread beyond the pitch, and a nervous final push produced more disorder than pressure.

Madrid’s hopes of finding an equaliser collapsed completely in stoppage time when Alvaro Carreras was sent off for dissent, having already been booked.

Celta capitalised on the meltdown immediately as Swedberg rounded Courtois and rolled in his second goal of the night.

The victory was Celta’s first league win over Madrid in more than a decade. Los Blancos are now four points behind table-topping Barcelona.

Alonso faces further scrutiny, with Manchester City visiting in the Champions League on Wednesday and a squad carrying heavy injuries into a decisive week of their season.