Real Madrid lost 2-0 at home to Celta Vigo, finishing with nine men after red cards for Fran Garcia and Alvaro Carreras in a damaging La Liga defeat
MADRID: Real Madrid suffered a damaging 2-0 home defeat to Celta Vigo in La Liga on Sunday, finishing the match with nine men.
Williot Swedberg struck twice in the second half for the visitors at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The result leaves Madrid four points behind rivals Barcelona at the top of the table.
Manager Xabi Alonso’s side also lost defender Eder Militao to injury on a difficult night.
“We have to turn the page as soon as possible,” urged Alonso after the match.
Madrid were playing their first home game after six on the road across all competitions.
Alonso chose to rest Antonio Rudiger, starting Alvaro Carreras in central defence instead.
Rudiger was introduced midway through the first half after Militao pulled up injured.
Celta goalkeeper Ionut Radu made several good saves in the first half to keep Madrid at bay.
The hosts struggled to create serious danger against Celta’s organised low block.
Swedberg opened the scoring with a gorgeous flicked finish from Bryan Zaragoza’s cross.
Fran Garcia then earned two yellow cards in a minute to leave Madrid with 10 men.
Alvaro Carreras was dismissed in stoppage time for dissent as Madrid lost their heads.
“I did not like the refereeing,” said Alonso of the officiating.
Swedberg rounded goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to seal Celta’s win with Madrid down to nine.
Celta striker Borja Iglesias said his team “read the game very well” to secure a “tremendous” victory.
Elsewhere, Espanyol beat Rayo Vallecano 1-0 to climb to fifth in La Liga.
Roberto Fernandez netted a first-half penalty at the RCDE Stadium for Manolo Gonzalez’s team.
Espanyol trail fourth-place Atletico Madrid by four points with a game in hand. – AFP
