Real Madrid finished with nine players on the field as it slumped to a 2-0 home loss against Celta Vigo on Sunday, slipping further behind La Liga leader Barcelona.
Celta struck shortly after the interval, and Madrid’s troubles deepened when Fran García and Álvaro Carreras were both sent off in what became the club’s first home defeat of the campaign across all competitions at the Santiago Bernabéu. Unused substitute Endrick was also red-carded from the bench for dissent.
Williot Swedberg opened the scoring in the 54th minute with a deft flick inside the box. Madrid went down to 10 men when García received a second yellow in the 64th, and to nine during stoppage time after Carreras was dismissed. Swedberg then wrapped up Celta’s win on a late counterattack.
“We’re all frustrated — this wasn’t the match or the outcome we expected,” Madrid manager Xabi Alonso said, criticizing the officiating. “The referee’s decisions disrupted us. I didn’t like the way the game was managed.”
The defeat leaves Madrid with just two wins in its last seven outings in all competitions. Up next is a Champions League home clash with Manchester City on Wednesday.
Madrid’s only previous league loss this season came at Atletico Madrid in September, along with a Champions League group-stage defeat at Liverpool in November. Sunday’s result leaves Alonso’s side four points behind Barcelona, who defeated Real Betis 5-3 on Saturday. Madrid sits only a point ahead of third-placed Villarreal, which still has a match in hand.
Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé both missed clear chances to bring Madrid level, while defender Éder Militão exited early with an injury.
Celta climbed to 10th with its second win in three matches.
Goalkeeping woes for Girona
Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga endured another difficult outing in his team’s 3-0 home loss to Elche, committing costly errors that resulted in two goals — including a misplaced pass to an opposing player inside the penalty area. He had already mishandled a routine near-post shot earlier in the game.
Dortmund secure 3rd spot in Bundesliga with 2-0 win over Hoffenheim
The Argentine had struggled similarly in Girona’s league opener, where his mistakes contributed to a goal, a penalty, and his sending-off in a 3-1 defeat to Rayo Vallecano.
Girona, now 18th and in the relegation zone, has managed only one victory in its last six matches. Elche, winless in its previous seven league games, moved up to ninth.
Espanyol extends winning streak
Roberto Fernández scored from the penalty spot in the first half as fifth-placed Espanyol edged Rayo Vallecano 1-0 to secure its third straight league win. Rayo, now 12th, went down to 10 men after Unai López was sent off in the 64th, while Espanyol’s Tyrhys Dolan received a late red card in the 87th. Rayo remains winless in its last five league matches.
Valencia snatches draw with late equalizer
Hugo Duro struck three minutes into added time to earn 15th-placed Valencia a 1-1 home draw against 13th-placed Sevilla. Sevilla, without a win in three league fixtures, had taken the lead through an own-goal by César Tárrega in the 58th minute.
Source: AP