WELCOME TO THE MIN BY MIN OF REAL MADRID VS CELTA |
Real Madrid receives Celta de Vigo on matchday 15 of the League, forced to win to stay close to Barcelona.
CONFIRMED ALIGNMENTS |
Real Madrid: Courtois; Asencio, races, militao, Fran Garcia; Tchouary, Valverde, Güler, Bellingham, Vinicius and Mbapé
Celta:Radu; Javi Rodríguez, Starfelt, Marcos Alonso; Javi Rueda, Moriba, Miguel Román, Carreira: Pablo Durán or Aspas, Bryan Zaragoza and Borja Iglesias.
PREVIA |
Real Madrid returns 37 days later to the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, after losing the leadership of LaLiga EA Sports away from home with three consecutive draws and starring in an expected reaction in San Mamés, which must be confirmed against a Celta de Vigo immersed in doubts.
It was the boost that Xabi Alonso needed in his lowest hours at the helm of Real Madrid. The successful NFL game at the Bernabéu conditioned a schedule that led to an unprecedented event, Real Madrid playing up to six consecutive away games. Added to Liverpool’s European defeat were the doubts that arose after drawing against Rayo, Elche and Girona. The step taken in Greece, against Olympiacos, lacked a reaction in LaLiga and he achieved it in San Mamés.
In the most complete match of the season, Xabi’s team unleashed its best game, the one with the greatest authority. Always supported by the leadership of Kylian Mbappé, author of 25 of Real Madrid’s 44 goals. Top scorer in LaLiga and in the ‘Champion’. But also with tactical tweaks that finally fell on the side of the Tolosa coach.
He will not be able to extend them against Celta because Trent Alexander-Arnold, after his best minutes, was injured again. His loss, along with that of Dani Carvajal, once again leaves the white team without a pure right back. The plague of defensive casualties extends with Dean Huijsen, who will miss his fourth consecutive game, David Alaba and Ferland Mendy. Xabi looks to the youth team and Joan Martínez is new to the squad.
The only good news it has is the good condition of Eduardo Camavinga to support a midfield (along with Tchouaméni, Fede Valverde and Bellingham) that, finally, provided the balance that Real Madrid needed. Improved from the slight sprained ankle he suffered in Bilbao, Xabi Alonso must decide whether to line up the Frenchman or bet on Arda Güler thinking about the duel against Manchester City next Wednesday.
Güler’s entry or an opportunity for Dani Ceballos will also depend on Fede Valverde’s demarcation. If the Uruguayan remains as an interior on the right and does not return to the side, between Raúl Asencio and Éder Militao, there would be a central defender who changes his position.
With plenty of Real Madrid wins in six home games, two less than Barcelona, one of the teams that scores more points away from home than at home arrives at the Santiago Bernabéu. Although Celta travels with doubts in its game and after offering a poor image in its last three games: Ludogorets in the Europa League, Espanyol in LaLiga and Sant Andreu in the Copa del Rey.
The scoring dependence on Borja Iglesias, the lack of continuity in the game and, above all, the defensive fragility in set-piece actions are three of the main problems of Claudio Giráldez’s team.
After giving him a rest in the Cup, the light blue coach will recover many of his starters: Javi Rodríguez, Marcos Alonso Carl Starfelt will regain their position in defense; Radu in goal; and Moriba in the center of the field.
Everything indicates that Javi Rueda will form on the right side because Mingueza accumulated more than 120 minutes against Sant Andreu, while the left will be for Sergio Carreira. Above, Bryan Zaragoza and Borja Iglesias seem fixed. Aspas and Pablo Durán opt for the other place.
Real Madrid: Courtois; Raúl Asencio, Militao, rüdiger, races; Tchoauéni, Fede Valverde, güler or camavinga, Bellingham; vicíicus y mbappé.
Celta:Radu; Javi Rodríguez, Starfelt, Marcos Alonso; Javi Rueda, Moriba, Miguel Román, Carreira: Pablo Durán or Aspas, Bryan Zaragoza and Borja Iglesias.
Referee: Alejandro Quintero González (Andalusian committee).
Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu.
