By Francis Onyach - Reporter
8 December 2025 - Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso has said the focus is on Wednesday's Champions League clash against Manchester City, after Madrid suffered a humiliating 2-0 loss at home to Celta Vigo in the LaLiga on Sunday.
“On Wednesday, we have a Champions League match to remove this bad taste from our mouths,” Alonso said as quoted by Real Madrid website.
This was one of their most surprising defeats of the season at the Santiago Bernabéu.
It was a match that saw Los Blancos reduced to nine men and slip four points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona.
Celta Vigo’s Swedish substitute, Williot Swedberg, became the hero of the night, scoring twice to secure a historic victory, Celta’s first win at the Bernabéu in nearly two decades. His clever back-heel finish in the 53rd minute broke the deadlock, and a composed effort in stoppage time sealed the result.
The game turned dramatically against Real Madrid after two sendings-off: Fran García and Álvaro Carreras both received second yellow cards, leaving Madrid with nine players for the closing stages. The dismissals compounded a night of frustration for the hosts and disrupted any momentum they were trying to build.
More from Kenya
Adding to Madrid’s woes, Jude Bellingham suffered a nasty cut above his eyebrow following an accidental clash with Borja Iglesias. After receiving medical treatment, he was booked for returning to the pitch without permission, one of several disciplinary mishaps that night. Endrick, not on the pitch, also received a red card.
Despite dominating possession in the final stages of the match, Madrid couldn’t find a breakthrough. Celta’s defense held firm, and goalkeeper Ionuț Radu made key saves to frustrate the hosts’ attackers.
The defeat marks a significant blow to Real Madrid’s title challenge. Last month, Madrid had beaten Barcelona in El Clásico and even briefly led La Liga, but recent results have seen their form dip sharply. Following this loss, Madrid now trail Barcelona by four points at the top of the table.
With pressure mounting and key players struggling with injuries, Xabi Alonso’s side will need to respond quickly if they are to keep pace with Barcelona in what remains a tightly contested La Liga campaign.
