Sunday evening saw Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid play at home at the Bernabéu for the first time in over a month. After scoring three times in their most recent trip to Bilbao at the San Mames and bringing home as many points this Wednesday Xabi Alonso’s side were looking to keep up this winning form. But they failed to do so last night conceding twice to Claudio Giráldez’s Celta Vigo side and failing to find the target themselves.
Spectators were treated to a specialised opening of the match with Real Madrid’s line-up being announced with a super hero style display. This was a nod to their collaboration with Marvel that launched on the weekend. The players were also seen rocking a Marvel inspired kit during warm-ups. But with this entrance promising a superhero block-buster spectators must have been disappointed after a slow-paced first half this match. The biggest story to come from the first 45 minutes was Madrid centre back Éder Militão coming off having picked up an injury after 24 minutes. The Bernabéu was crying out for a hero to step up and give their team the lead. Their answers were met, not by one of their own superstars but by opponents Celta Vigo’s Swedish substitute Williot Swedberg when he found himself unmarked in the box and opened the score for Celta Vigo in the 46′ minute, giving his team a chance to steal 3 points. Whilst seeming content to hang back and hit Madrid on the counter attack in the first half Claudio Giráldez’ team looked more confident on the ball in the second half. They were playing through Madrid’s press with a certain swagger which caused clear frustrations with the home side.
With the role of winner already looking to be filled the only thing this story needed was a villain. The home fans had their clear pick for this. 84,000 madrista’s could be heard booing and whistling at every goal kick Celta stopper Ionut Radu took his sweet time on. Wasting precious seconds in the eyes of the home fans. But up stepped Real Madrid left-back Fran Garcia. Who was in minute 63′ was gone in 60 seconds. The Madrid academy graduate found himself at the end of a second booking in minute 64′ after having received his first exactly one minute before. As a result the Bernabéu seemed to rally behind Xabi Alonso’s team and had found a new target to vilify: the Spanish arbiter, who decided to take center stage in the first minute of added time by sending off Alvaro Carreras bringing Madrid down to 9. The Bernabéu exploded into dramatics on and off the pitch. Leading to manager Xabi Alonso also seeing red. This seemed to be the nail in Madrids’ coffin with Death making one more appearance. Once again in the form of Swede Williot Swedberg. He dribbled past Thibaut Courtois with ease and walked the ball into the empty Madrid goal.
What’s next for Madrid
Madrid went into this match with six injuries all of them in their defence. This has been one of the main stories this season. Xabi has had to play without key players at the back. On top of that Madrid’s attackers-except for Kylian Mbappe- have struggled to find the back of the net this season. Even though the French superstar is leading the scoring charts, both domestically and in Europe this season, his teammates have been less successful. Vinicius has been unable to score in the last 11 matches that he has starred for the club.
Xabi Alonso’s side will face Manchester City in the Champions league this Wednesday, hosting the English side at the Bernabéu. Both teams find themselves trying to get back to their best being carried by their star strikers. The world will be watching. Excited to see Kylian Mbappe face off against Erling Haaland. Both leading the goalscoring charts in their respective domestic competitions. But with Madrid’s Defence ridiculed by injuries- with Militão being one more on the list- Xabi Alonso is tasked with the impossible: stopping Erling Haaland from scoring and doing so with a weakened defence. On top of that they will face Deportivo Alavés next Sunday. Going into the match with only 2 official defenders. This upcoming week might be make or break in the Spanish capital.
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