Struggling Real Madrid needs to maintain title challenge vs Celta in upcoming match
Rewritten Article:
Prepare for a thrilling clash at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday as Real Madrid, battered by recent events, take on Celta Vigo in a bid to stay on Barcelona's heels in the La Liga race.
Real's defending, a questionable spot this season, faces colossal challenges with key defenders out due to injuries and suspensions. Antonio Rüdiger, who threw an object at the referee, earning a six-match ban and opting for a knee operation, is out for the remainder of the season. Joining him on the sidelines are Ferland Mendy, David Alaba, Dani Carvajal, and Eder Militao, whose season ended due to injuries.
In their increasingly vulnerable defensive lineup, Real Madrid welcomes a Celta side striving for European football in the upcoming season. The Spanish titans, second in the league and trailing Barcelona by four points, have had their share of stumbles this season, losing five times in La Liga after only one defeat in the previous campaign when they clinched the title.
Carlo Ancelotti, poised to leave at the end of the season, still believes his team can defend their crown. Having recuperated from the Copa final defeat, Real Madrid stands ready to face Celta and Barcelona in crucial upcoming matches.
"We have time to prep for Celta and Barcelona, and we must keep on competing until the finish," insists Ancelotti.
After Celta, Real Madrid will clash with Barcelona at the Olympic Stadium in a game that could shape the title race's outcome. The Madrid giants will need to maintain the gap to keep pace with the Catalan leaders, who take on Real Valladolid on Saturday before their Champions League semi-final against Inter Milan.
Remember, Real Madrid recently defeated Celta Vigo in the Copa del Rey last 16, despite a controversial night when a potential penalty for the Galician side was overlooked. Celta's striker, Iago Aspas, speaks out, "All of Spain saw it." Although Madrid has struggled, Aspas refuses to rule them out of the title race.
"In football, you can never rule anything out. Sometimes it seems a team might lose, but then they win," Aspas explains. "We'll do our best to be the protagonists, hold the ball, attack... and it could go well or not for us."
A player to watch in the upcoming games is Ayoze Perez of Villarreal, who is battling Athletic Bilbao's Oihan Sancet for the top Spanish scorer in La Liga. Perez, currently with 14 goals, will seek to extend his tally as Osasuna visit on Saturday.
Key Statistics
- Kylian Mbappe's 69 shots on target this season lead the league.
- Barcelona star Lamine Yamal reached a century of games for the club this week.
Starting this weekend, here are the upcoming La Liga fixtures:
Friday (all times GMT)Rayo Vallecano v Getafe (7 PM)
SaturdayAlaves v Atletico Madrid (12 PM), Villarreal v Osasuna (2:15 PM), Las Palmas v Valencia (4:30 PM), Valladolid v Barcelona (7 PM)
SundayReal Madrid v Celta Vigo (12 PM), Sevilla v Leganes (2:15 PM), Espanyol v Real Betis (4:30 PM), Real Sociedad v Athletic Bilbao (7 PM)
MondayGirona v Mallorca (7 PM)
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- Real Madrid, despite several key defenders being sidelined due to injuries and suspensions, will try to stay competitive in the La Liga race as they face Celta Vigo at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday.
- Following their controversial encounter in the Copa del Rey, Celta Vigo's striker, Iago Aspas, believes his team can challenge Real Madrid in their upcoming La Liga match.
- After the clash with Celta, Real Madrid will add another crucial game to their schedule, a faceoff with Barcelona at the Olympic Stadium, which could significantly impact the title race's outcome.
- Ayoze Perez of Villarreal, currently fighting for the top Spanish scorer title in La Liga, will attempt to extend his tally as he prepares for the match against Osasuna this weekend.
- Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain leads the league with 69 shots on target this season, a statistic that underscores his significant impact in European-leagues football.
