Struggling Real Madrid needs to maintain title contention against Celta Vigo in their upcoming match.

Revamped Tackle:

Real Madrid squares off against Celta Vigo this Sunday, aiming to keep pace with league leaders Barcelona, despite the aftermath of the cup final kerfuffle. Notable absences due to suspensions and injuries loom over the club's defense, leaving it in shambles ahead of the visitors from Galicia.

Antonio Rudiger, the suspended defender, received a six-match ban for chucking an object at the referee, and he's also set for a knee operation, making him unavailable for the rest of the season. Moreover, Ferland Mendy and David Alaba won't be playing on due to injuries. They join long-term absentees Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao on the sidelines.

Madrid's defense, one of the team's vulnerabilities this term, is close to collapse as a depleted Celta side, seeking a spot in European football next season, campaigns at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Rossoneri are currently second but trail Barcelona by a precipitous four points.

Last season, Madrid suffered only one loss in the league. However, this term has seen a tumble, with five defeats already logged. Coach Carlo Ancelotti, on his way out at the season's end, still believes his team can reclaim their crown. With a week to rest and recuperate from the Copa del Rey final defeat, the pressure is on to prevent Barcelona from increasing the gap.

"We have time to ready ourselves for the games against Celta and Barcelona; we must continue to compete with everything we've got," urged the Italian gaffer.

A visit to the Olympic Stadium awaits after Celta, where a clash with the Catalan giants may well prove decisive in the title race. Madrid must ensure the four-point deficit doesn't expand, with their rivals in action at Real Valladolid on Saturday.

In an interesting turn of events, Madrid磁ussen Celta Vigo in the Copa del Rey last 16, but the night was marred by a controversial ruling; Celta was not awarded a likely penalty. Striker Iago Aspas brought attention to the incident ahead of their return to the Bernabeu: "All of Spain saw it," he stated.

The striker also conceded that the odds might be against Madrid, but he could not rule them out of the race. "In football, anything is possible," added Aspas. "We'll strive to shine, keep the ball, attack... and watch what unfolds."

Player under the limelight: Ayoze Perez

As Villarreal inches closer to a Champions League berth this season, forward Ayoze Perez aims to end the campaign as the La Liga's top Spanish scorer. With 14 goals, he trails Athletic Bilbao's Oihan Sancet by just one, currently sidelined by an injury. Osasuna visits Perez's team this weekend, offering a prime opportunity to boost his tally.

Key numbers:

Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappé are set to return to the lineup after full-scale training.
Fran García is the only natural fit left-back, with Youssef "Yusi" Enríquez (19) poised to serve as reserve.
Kylian Mbappe is this season's top player in terms of shots on target with 69.
Barcelona's Lamine Yamal has notched his centennial match for the club this week against Inter Milan.

Fixtures:

Friday (all times GMT) Rayo Vallecano vs Getafe (1900)

Saturday Alaves vs Atletico Madrid (1200), Villarreal vs Osasuna (1415), Las Palmas vs Valencia (1630), Valladolid vs Barcelona (1900)

Sunday Real Madrid vs Celta Vigo (1200), Sevilla vs Leganes (1415), Espanyol vs Real Betis (1630), Real Sociedad vs Athletic Bilbao (1900)

Monday Girona vs Mallorca (1900)

Ayoze Perez, with 14 goals, aims to overtake Oihan Sancet as the La Liga's top Spanish scorer, as Villarreal battles Osasuna this weekend.
Real Madrid's defense, depleted by injuries and suspensions, faces a challenging clash against Celta Vigo this Sunday in a bid to prevent Barcelona from increasing the four-point gap.
In the European leagues, Madrid's Champions League rivals, Paris Saint-Germain, will welcome back Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappé after extensive training, with Mbappé leading the season in shots on target (69).
Barcelona's defensive stalwart, Lamine Yamal, achieved his 100th match for the club this week against Inter Milan.
In an upcoming La Liga fixture, Iago Aspas' Celta Vigo takes on Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu, where the memory of the controversial penalty denial in their Copa del Rey meeting lingers.

Struggling Real Madrid needs to maintain title contention against Celta Vigo in their upcoming match.