Real Madrid vs Celta Vigo

Real Madrid continue their charge towards the La Liga title when they take on Rafa Benitez’s Celta Vigo on Sunday evening.

Carlo Ancelotti was quick to slander his side’s performance against RB Leipzig in midweek, but Madrid scraped into the Champions League quarter-finals after hanging onto a 1-1 draw.

They’ve struggled to match their most potent form in the wake of their Supercopa triumph in January, but it looks as if Madrid will waltz to the title given their current eight-point advantage at the summit.

The hosts will be expected to overcome a Celta side that is fighting against the drop but has performed better than their league position suggests. Benitez’s outfit have been somewhat unfortunate this term, but the buffer between themselves and the drop zone is a healthy six points after they beat Almeria 1-0 last time out.

Here’s 90min’s preview of Real Madrid’s upcoming La Liga clash.

The hosts have no fresh injury concerns from their midweek encounter but will be without the suspended Jude Bellingham on Sunday after he was sent off following the controversial draw with Valencia last weekend.

Eder Militao is back in training having torn his ACL in August, but he and Thibaut Courtois aren’t expected to make their returns until April at the very earliest.

David Alaba is out for the rest of the season.

Real Madrid predicted lineup vs Celta Vigo (4-3-1-2): Lunin; Carvajal, Rudiger, Nacho, Garcia; Tchouameni, Valverde, Modric; Brahim; Vinicius, Joselu.

The visitors have several injury concerns heading into Sunday’s trip to the capital.

Williot Swedberg is a doubt with a knock, as is Carlos Dotor with a thigh injury. Renato Tapia and Mihailo Ristic are more likely to return after the international break.

Joseph Aidoo will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury.

Celta Vigo predicted lineup vs Real Madrid (4-4-2): Guaita; Manquillo, Starfelt, Nunez, Sanchez; Mingueza, Beltran, De la Torre, Bamba; Douvikas, Strand Larsen.

Madrid have been finding ways of getting it done in 2024 without particularly impressing. However, the talent at his disposal means Ancelotti can continue to lean on individual brilliance in La Liga.

Such magic will be required against a typically stubborn Benitez-led outfit. Celta are better than their current 17th-place standing and pushed Madrid all the way in the reverse fixture.

Bellingham, who scored a late winner in Vigo, could be missed, but Madrid have other magicians capable of propelling them to victory on home soil.