Tchouameni shines and Valverde rescues Real Madrid against Celta Vigo.
Real Madrid's explosive midfield performance helped them narrowly overcome Celta Vigo at Balaidos. Despite defensive errors, Los Blancos' resilience came through at the right moment.
Real Madrid endured a turbulent 90 minutes at Balaidos against a resilient Celta Vigo. On a day when their attacking stars struggled to find the net, it was the brilliance of the midfielders that helped Carlo Ancelotti's side secure all three points and continue their pursuit of the top spot in La Liga.
A brilliant highlight from the midfield.
Aurelien Tchouameni was the central figure of the match with a world-class performance. Not only did he excel in his defensive duties, but the French midfielder also directly opened the scoring with a well-executed free-kick. His keen tactical awareness and powerful finishing earned him the highest rating of the match.
Furthermore, Federico Valverde once again affirmed his nickname as Madrid's "eternal source of energy." As the match drew to a close and Real Madrid needed a decisive moment, Valverde stepped up with a thunderous shot, securing a valuable victory for the Spanish royal club.
The defense still has many concerns.
Despite the victory, Real Madrid's defensive system still leaves many questions unanswered. New signing Trent Alexander-Arnold, while contributing well to the attack, repeatedly left deadly gaps behind him. A prime example was the situation where Swedberg easily bypassed him, leading to Celta Vigo's equalizer.
Young center-back Raul Asencio also had a forgettable game, making a direct error that led to his team's goal conceded due to failing to closely mark Borja Iglesias. However, Thibaut Courtois's excellent performance in goal, with three crucial saves, helped to compensate for the mistakes of his teammates further up the field.
Detailed score statistics (according to BongDa.com.vn)
| Player | Score | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Aurelien Tchouameni | 8.2 | Man of the Match (MOTM), scored 1 goal. |
| Federico Valverde | 7.7 | Score the decisive goal. |
| Thibaut Courtois | 7.2 | 3 crucial saves |
| Vinicius Junior | 7.2 | One shot hit the post. |
| Trent Alexander-Arnold | 7.1 | Good attacking support but defensive flaws. |
| Antonio Ruediger | 7.1 | Intense conflict |
| Thiago Pitarch | 6.6 | He played poorly and was substituted. |
Overall, the hard-fought victory at Balaidos shows that Real Madrid still relies heavily on the individual brilliance of their midfield stars. To maintain their strength in the long-term title race, coach Ancelotti needs to quickly find a solution to the defensive lapses.
