Valverde nets late winner as Real beat Celta Vigo

Federico Valverde struck deep into stoppage time to hand Real Madrid a dramatic 2-1 victory away to Celta Vigo and keep the pressure on La Liga leaders Barcelona. The midfielder’s 91st-minute effort, which clipped defender Marcos Alonso en route to goal, ended a two-match league winless streak for Carlo Ancelotti’s depleted side.

Real had looked poised for a routine evening when Aurélien Tchouaméni’s early header cannoned in off the frame of the goal, moments after Vinícius Júnior had already rattled the post. Yet Celta responded swiftly: Williot Swedberg left Trent Alexander-Arnold in his wake down the flank and squared for Borja Iglesias to level before the break.

Without the injured quartet of Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo and Eduardo Camavinga, Real struggled to turn territorial dominance into a second goal until Valverde’s late intervention. The win lifts the champions to within a point of Barcelona, who can restore a four-point cushion when they visit Athletic Club on Saturday night.

Attention now turns to the Champions League for Real, who host Manchester City in the first leg of their last-16 tie on Wednesday.