This was supposed to be a routine night at the Bernabéu. On paper, Real Madrid came into this game in decent form and off the back of a confident 3–0 win away at Athletic Club. Under the surface, though, tension had been building for weeks – and against Celta Vigo, it finally exploded into a full-blown crisis performance.
A makeshift defence, two red cards, a key injury and a blunt attack added up to one of the worst nights of Xabi Alonso’s tenure so far.
Up next on RMxtra: full player ratings, the big questions from this defeat, and a podcast reacting to everything that went wrong.
Line-up and early signs
Madrid named a strong XI, with Fede Valverde wearing the armband and plenty of firepower on the pitch. Even with another patched-up back line – something fans are sadly used to in recent seasons – there was still a feeling that playing Celta at home could be a springboard back into top form.
Early on, Arda Güler and Jude Bellingham both had chances to put Madrid ahead but couldn’t find the finish. Güler in particular had a couple of good looks at goal, showing his usual clever movement but lacking the final detail. Vinícius Júnior then forced a save as Madrid pushed for the opener.
Despite the chances, the overall performance already felt… off. Passes were sloppy, and vertical balls were forced into crowded areas, putting teammates under unnecessary pressure. When Madrid did have space to attack, they didn’t accelerate. When the long ball looked on – something that had worked so well against Athletic – they often ignored it.
The only thing missing to complete the nightmare script was a defensive setback. And it arrived.
Militao injury changes everything
Éder Militão, already such a big story this season because of his injury battles, picked up another knock and had to come off. For a defence already patched together, it was a major blow – and you could feel the anxiety spread through the team.
Even with Madrid edging the first half on chances, the injury and the disjointed play meant the goalless scoreline at the break didn’t exactly feel “unlucky”. It felt like a warning.
Madrid didn’t listen.
Collapse after the break: goal and red cards
Ten minutes into the second half, Celta struck. A clever backheel finish was enough to beat Thibaut Courtois and silence the Bernabéu. From that moment on, Madrid looked rattled.
Fran García was then shown a second yellow card, leaving Madrid down to ten men and turning a bad situation into a dangerous one. With the extra player, Celta were able to keep the ball, slow the tempo and frustrate Madrid, who struggled badly to create clear chances.
Kylian Mbappé did have a half-chance that could have changed the story, but it came to nothing. Gonzalo García came off the bench and nearly made the difference with a header that flew just wide, one of the few moments that lifted the crowd.
Instead of a comeback, things imploded further. Álvaro Carreras was also sent off after picking up two yellows of his own, reducing Madrid to nine men. In stoppage time, Celta made it 2–0, finishing the game and underlining just how disastrous the night had become.
Full time: Real Madrid 0–2 Celta Vigo.
Worst performance of the season?
This wasn’t just a defeat. It was a performance full of warning signs that had been flashing for weeks:
- A defence constantly held together with tape.
- A midfield that couldn’t control the rhythm or protect the back line.
- An attack that created some chances, but lacked composure and clarity when it mattered.
- A team that lost its head, going from eleven to nine with two avoidable red cards.
Is this the worst performance – and result – of the season so far? You could make a strong case that it is, not just because of the scoreline, but because of the complete loss of control and composure in a home game Madrid were expected to win.
What’s next on RMxtra
This is just a quick reaction. On RMxtra, we’ll be digging deeper into this defeat with:
- Detailed player ratings – who struggled most, and who (if anyone) can come out with credit.
- Big questions – what this result says about Madrid’s form, mentality and squad depth.
- Podcast reaction – a full conversation on where Xabi Alonso and his team go from here.
For now, the simple truth is this: Real Madrid 0–2 Celta Vigo is more than just a bad night. It’s a result that demands answers.