Who: Actual Madrid vs Celta Vigo
What: Spain’s La Liga
The place: Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid, Spain
When: Sunday, December 7, at 9pm (20:00 GMT)
Methods to observe: We’ll have all of the buildup on Al Jazeera Sport from 17:00 GMT upfront of our textual content commentary stream.
Actual Madrid will search solely a second top-flight win in 5 matches once they entertain Celta Vigo in La Liga on Saturday, an achievement that might see them shut the hole on league leaders Barcelona to 1 level.
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It needs to be a match that sees the document Spanish home league winners enter as heavy favourites, however their type of late has allowed Barcelona to leap to the highest of the desk, whereas opening up questions on their coach, Xabi Alonso.
Al Jazeera Sport takes a take a look at a recreation the place Celta’s spectacular away document this season may see them trigger an upset, however a lot of the main target will even be on Actual’s free-scoring ahead, Kylian Mbappe.
Why has Mbappe been in contrast with Actual Madrid legend Cristiano Ronaldo?
French celebrity Mbappe is shut to creating historical past at Actual Madrid, like his idol Cristiano Ronaldo, mentioned his coach, Xabi Alonso, on Saturday.
After ending final season in prime type and beginning the present marketing campaign beautifully, Mbappe has netted 55 targets with Actual Madrid in 2025, and is simply 4 away from matching the document of 59 set in 2013 by Ronaldo, because the membership’s prime scorer in a calendar 12 months.
Mbappe has been more and more in contrast with the all-time prime Madrid goalscorer, Ronaldo, by the Spanish press for his rising affect and talent to rack up targets.
“Kylian is on his strategy to making historical past at Actual Madrid like Cristiano did. Not simply due to the significance he has within the crew, but additionally due to the ambition he conveys and the variety of targets he scores,” Alonso advised a information convention.
“Kylian is likely one of the chosen ones. He has this need inside him not simply to do issues properly, but additionally to have a optimistic affect on others. That is one thing he shares with Cristiano – this contagious ambition that evokes the remainder of the crew.”
What are Mbappe’s stats at Actual Madrid?
Profitable the European Golden Shoe and La Liga’s prime scorer award final season with 31 targets, Mbappe is at present working at a good increased stage, with 16 targets scored in 15 matches performed, and 9 in 5 Champions League video games.
Actual Madrid face Erling Haaland’s Manchester Metropolis within the Champions League on December 10, earlier than league video games in opposition to Alaves and Sevilla, giving Mbappe 4 matches to catch Ronaldo, who Mbappe admits he had posters of on his wall as a toddler.
Portugal worldwide Ronaldo scored 450 targets in 438 matches for Actual Madrid, with Mbappe on 69 targets in 79 video games since becoming a member of from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024.
What occurred in Actual Madrid’s final match?
Actual’s 3-0 win in La Liga at Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday was seen as considered one of their most spectacular shows this season.
Mbappe scored twice, both aspect of Eduardo Camavinga’s header, to present Actual a much-needed win, together with a morale-boosting efficiency.
The win handed Actual their first La Liga win in 4 video games.
How have Actual Madrid fared in La Liga this season?
Having gained 13 of the opening 14 video games of the season, Actual have since gained solely twice of their final six matches – a type of wins coming in Europe.
How have Celta Vigo fared in La Liga this season?
Celta had been on an eight-match unbeaten run, with six wins in that point, however it got here crashing to an finish with three defeats of their final 4 video games.
Regardless of their respectable mid-table place, Celta have been eight video games into the season – of which they misplaced three – earlier than they lastly secured a win. That victory got here within the Europa League in opposition to PAOK Salonika.
In complete, there have been 9 La Liga video games – seven of which have been drawn – earlier than Celta registered their first league win of the season, with a 3-2 win at Osasuna.
What occurred the final time Actual Madrid performed Celta Vigo?
Actual beat Celta Vigo 3-2 in La Liga at Santiago Bernabeu in Could, within the final assembly between the perimeters.
Los Blancos, then beneath the administration of Carlos Ancelotti, stormed right into a three-goal lead, due to Arda Guler and Kylian Mbappe’s braces.
Javi Rodriguez pulled one again within the 69th minute, with Williot Swedberg’s 76th-minute strike establishing a nervy end.
Actual’s clear sweep in opposition to Celta Vigo final season
Actual additionally gained the La Liga assembly at Celta Vigo final season, with Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior scoring both aspect of Swedberg’s strike for the house aspect.
Actual additionally gained a January assembly between the perimeters within the Copa del Rey in January. Mbappe and Vinicius Junior appeared to have set Los Blancos on their strategy to a snug win by Jonathan Bamba’s 83rd-minute strike, and Marcos Alonso’s Ninetieth-minute penalty despatched the tie to further time.
Second-half sub Endrick Federico bagged a brace both aspect of a Federico Valverde objective to safe the 5-2 win and keep away from penalties.
When did Celta Vigo final beat Actual Madrid?
Celta final overcame Actual in 2017, with a 2-1 win at Santiago Bernabeu within the first leg of their Copa del Rey quarterfinal. A 2-2 draw within the return fixture was sufficient to see Celta progress, however their run was ended within the semifinals by Alaves.
When did Celta Vigo final beat Actual Madrid in La Liga?
Celta haven’t overwhelmed Actual within the league since 2014, when Brazilian ahead Charles scored each targets in a 2-0 win that ended any likelihood of Los Blancos catching cross-city rivals Atletico for the league title that season.
Stat assault: Actual Madrid
Actual’s dwelling document in La Liga this season has seen them win all six matches, netting 14 and conceding solely three.
Stat assault: Celta Vigo
Celta’s latest eight-match unbeaten run, with six wins in that point, got here crashing to an finish with three defeats of their final 4 video games.
Celta’s away document within the league has seen them win three, draw two and lose one, which far outweighs their dwelling return, the place they’re but to win on this La Liga marketing campaign.
Head-to-head: Actual Madrid vs Celta Vigo
That is the 58th assembly between the perimeters, with Actual profitable 39 of the matches and Celta profitable 12.
Actual are unbeaten within the final 19 conferences between the perimeters, profitable 16.
Actual Madrid crew information
Dani Carvajal, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ferland Mendy are all absent because of harm. Dean Huijsen and David Alaba are additionally lacking for the go to of Celta.
Eduardo Camavinga is a doubt with a knock to the ankle, however has been named within the squad.
Celta Vigo crew information
Joseph Aidoo and Mihailo Ristic are doubts because of harm.
Main scorer Borja Iglesias, with eight targets to his title this season, will lead a number of gamers returning to the aspect, following the midweek win on penalties in opposition to decrease league Sant Andreu within the Copa del Rey.
Actual Madrid’s predicted beginning lineup
Courtois, Asencio, Militao, Rudiger, Carreras, Guler, Valverde, Tchouameni, Bellingham, Vinicius, Mbappe
Celta Vigo predicted beginning lineup
Radu, Alonso, Starfelt, J Rodriguez, Rueda, D Rodriguez, Moriba, Carreira, Zaragoza, Iglesias, Aspas
