Who: Actual Madrid vs Celta Vigo
What: Spain’s La Liga
The place: Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid, Spain
When: Sunday, December 7, at 9pm (20:00 GMT)
How one can observe: We’ll have all of the buildup on Al Jazeera Sport from 17:00 GMT prematurely of our textual content commentary stream.
Actual Madrid will search solely a second top-flight win in 5 matches once they entertain Celta Vigo in La Liga on Saturday, an achievement that may see them shut the hole on league leaders Barcelona to at least one level.
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It must be a match that sees the file Spanish home league winners enter as heavy favourites, however their type of late has allowed Barcelona to leap to the highest of the desk, whereas opening up questions on their coach, Xabi Alonso.
Al Jazeera Sport takes a take a look at a sport the place Celta’s spectacular away file this season might see them trigger an upset, however a lot of the main focus will even be on Actual’s free-scoring ahead, Kylian Mbappe.
Why has Mbappe been in contrast with Actual Madrid legend Cristiano Ronaldo?
French famous person Mbappe is shut to creating historical past at Actual Madrid, like his idol Cristiano Ronaldo, mentioned his coach, Xabi Alonso, on Saturday.
After ending final season in prime kind and beginning the present marketing campaign beautifully, Mbappe has netted 55 targets with Actual Madrid in 2025, and is simply 4 away from matching the file of 59 set in 2013 by Ronaldo, because the membership’s prime scorer in a calendar yr.
Mbappe has been more and more in contrast with the all-time prime Madrid goalscorer, Ronaldo, by the Spanish press for his rising affect and skill to rack up targets.
“Kylian is on his option to making historical past at Actual Madrid like Cristiano did. Not simply due to the significance he has within the staff, but in addition due to the ambition he conveys and the variety of targets he scores,” Alonso informed a information convention.
“Kylian is among the chosen ones. He has this want inside him not simply to do issues properly, but in addition to have a optimistic affect on others. That is one thing he shares with Cristiano – this contagious ambition that conjures up the remainder of the staff.”
What are Mbappe’s stats at Actual Madrid?
Profitable the European Golden Shoe and La Liga’s prime scorer award final season with 31 targets, Mbappe is at present working at a good greater stage, with 16 targets scored in 15 matches performed, and 9 in 5 Champions League video games.
Actual Madrid face Erling Haaland’s Manchester Metropolis within the Champions League on December 10, earlier than league video games in opposition to Alaves and Sevilla, giving Mbappe 4 matches to catch Ronaldo, who Mbappe admits he had posters of on his wall as a baby.
Portugal worldwide Ronaldo scored 450 targets in 438 matches for Actual Madrid, with Mbappe on 69 targets in 79 video games since becoming a member of from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024.
What occurred in Actual Madrid’s final match?
Actual’s 3-0 win in La Liga at Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday was seen as one in every of their most spectacular shows this season.
Mbappe scored twice, both aspect of Eduardo Camavinga’s header, to present Actual a much-needed win, together with a morale-boosting efficiency.
The win handed Actual their first La Liga win in 4 video games.
How have Actual Madrid fared in La Liga this season?
Having received 13 of the opening 14 video games of the season, Actual have since received solely twice of their final six matches – a kind of wins coming in Europe.
How have Celta Vigo fared in La Liga this season?
Celta had been on an eight-match unbeaten run, with six wins in that point, but it surely got here crashing to an finish with three defeats of their final 4 video games.
Regardless of their respectable mid-table place, Celta had been eight video games into the season – of which they misplaced three – earlier than they lastly secured a win. That victory got here within the Europa League in opposition to PAOK Salonika.
In whole, there have been 9 La Liga video games – seven of which had been drawn – earlier than Celta registered their first league win of the season, with a 3-2 win at Osasuna.
What occurred the final time Actual Madrid performed Celta Vigo?
Actual beat Celta Vigo 3-2 in La Liga at Santiago Bernabeu in Might, within the final assembly between the perimeters.
Los Blancos, then underneath the administration of Carlos Ancelotti, stormed right into a three-goal lead, due to Arda Guler and Kylian Mbappe’s braces.
Javi Rodriguez pulled one again within the 69th minute, with Williot Swedberg’s 76th-minute strike organising a nervy end.
Actual’s clear sweep in opposition to Celta Vigo final season
Actual additionally received the La Liga assembly at Celta Vigo final season, with Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior scoring both aspect of Swedberg’s strike for the house aspect.
Actual additionally received a January assembly between the perimeters within the Copa del Rey in January. Mbappe and Vinicius Junior appeared to have set Los Blancos on their option to a cushty win by Jonathan Bamba’s 83rd-minute strike, and Marcos Alonso’s Ninetieth-minute penalty despatched the tie to additional time.
Second-half sub Endrick Federico bagged a brace both aspect of a Federico Valverde aim to safe the 5-2 win and keep away from penalties.
When did Celta Vigo final beat Actual Madrid?
Celta final overcame Actual in 2017, with a 2-1 win at Santiago Bernabeu within the first leg of their Copa del Rey quarterfinal. A 2-2 draw within the return fixture was sufficient to see Celta progress, however their run was ended within the semifinals by Alaves.
When did Celta Vigo final beat Actual Madrid in La Liga?
Celta haven’t crushed Actual within the league since 2014, when Brazilian ahead Charles scored each targets in a 2-0 win that ended any probability of Los Blancos catching cross-city rivals Atletico for the league title that season.
Stat assault: Actual Madrid
Actual’s dwelling file in La Liga this season has seen them win all six matches, netting 14 and conceding solely three.
Stat assault: Celta Vigo
Celta’s latest eight-match unbeaten run, with six wins in that point, got here crashing to an finish with three defeats of their final 4 video games.
Celta’s away file within the league has seen them win three, draw two and lose one, which far outweighs their dwelling return, the place they’re but to win on this La Liga marketing campaign.
Head-to-head: Actual Madrid vs Celta Vigo
That is the 58th assembly between the perimeters, with Actual profitable 39 of the matches and Celta profitable 12.
Actual are unbeaten within the final 19 conferences between the perimeters, profitable 16.
Actual Madrid staff information
Dani Carvajal, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ferland Mendy are all absent as a result of damage. Dean Huijsen and David Alaba are additionally lacking for the go to of Celta.
Eduardo Camavinga is a doubt with a knock to the ankle, however has been named within the squad.
Celta Vigo staff information
Joseph Aidoo and Mihailo Ristic are doubts as a result of damage.
Main scorer Borja Iglesias, with eight targets to his identify this season, will lead a bunch of gamers returning to the aspect, following the midweek win on penalties in opposition to decrease league Sant Andreu within the Copa del Rey.
Actual Madrid’s predicted beginning lineup
Courtois, Asencio, Militao, Rudiger, Carreras, Guler, Valverde, Tchouameni, Bellingham, Vinicius, Mbappe
Celta Vigo predicted beginning lineup
Radu, Alonso, Starfelt, J Rodriguez, Rueda, D Rodriguez, Moriba, Carreira, Zaragoza, Iglesias, Aspas
