Real Madrid suffered another setback in their league campaign after losing two nil at home to Celta Vigo in a match that saw Fran Garcia and Alvaro Carreras sent off, leaving the hosts to finish with nine men.
The defeat gives Barcelona a four point advantage at the top of the La Liga table and adds further pressure on Xabi Alonso ahead of their Champions League clash with Manchester City.
Madrid entered the fixture searching for stability after a difficult spell that has produced just one league win in five matches.
They were returning to the Bernabeu for the first time in weeks following a series of away games triggered by the hosting of an NFL event.
The evening became more complicated when defender Eder Militao sustained an injury and had to be replaced by Antonio Rudiger earlier than planned.
The News Chronicle understands that Madrid struggled to break down Celta’s defensive setup throughout the first half.
Despite efforts from Jude Bellingham, Arda Guler and Vinicius Junior, Celta goalkeeper Ionut Radu maintained a strong presence, stopping several promising attempts.
Madrid’s inability to find space for key attackers such as Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius allowed Celta to remain compact and confident.
Celta struck first in the second half when Bryan Zaragoza delivered a cross that Williot Swedberg converted with a well-executed flick.
The situation worsened for Madrid when Fran Garcia received two quick bookings, reducing the hosts to ten men.
Their frustration grew as chances from Mbappe and substitute Gonzalo Garcia failed to find the target.
Carreras was later dismissed in stoppage time for dissent, and Celta capitalised by sealing the victory through another composed finish from Swedberg after rounding Thibaut Courtois.
The result leaves Madrid with renewed concerns ahead of their upcoming European fixture.
