Real Madrid ratings vs Celta: Mbappe nets brace, Guler shines as Blancos hold on to stay hot on Barcelona's heels before crucial Clasico"
Turkey’s rising star and France’s talismanic forward combined to spare Carlo Ancelotti’s side on Sunday, as Real Madrid scraped a 3-2 home victory over Celta Vigo—a result that flattered the hosts but kept them firmly in the title hunt.
For much of the match, Arda Guler appeared the lone spark in a lethargic Madrid side, his teammates content to orbit his creativity. Ancelotti recently hinted at deploying the young winger more centrally—a notion vindicated here as Guler glided past challenges, carved open defenses with his movement, and broke the deadlock with a sublime 33rd-minute curler into the top corner, injecting life into an otherwise sluggish first half.
Kylian Mbappe then doubled the lead with a trademark burst of pace and thunderous finish, before adding a second shortly after halftime—coolly converting Guler’s incisive through ball. Yet Madrid’s complacency nearly proved costly, as Celta mounted a late fightback to turn a routine win into a nervy escape.
Late Defensive Lapses Nearly Cost Madrid
Madrid’s shaky backline nearly undid their hard work in a chaotic final 20 minutes. Lucas Vazquez’s panicked clearance only found Javi Rodriguez for a simple finish, before Iago Aspas turned provider with a clever pass for Williot Swedberg’s composed strike.
With Aspas pulling strings in attack, a Celta equalizer felt imminent – yet the visitors couldn’t quite find the final touch. Madrid ultimately escaped with three scarcely deserved points, staying within four points of Barcelona ahead of next week’s season-defining Clasico.
Real Madrid Player Ratings from the Bernabéu…
Goalkeeper & Defence
Thibaut Courtois (6/10):
Produced two excellent first-half saves but was left exposed for both Celta goals. A steady presence despite Madrid’s defensive wobbles.
Lucas Vázquez (5/10):
Costly error led to Celta’s opener with a weak clearance off the line. Struggled defensively, leaving Madrid exposed on the right flank.
Aurélien Tchouaméni (5/10):
Commanding for the first hour, neutralizing Iglesias with ease. Forced into firefighting mode as Madrid’s structure collapsed late on.
Raúl Asensio (6/10):
Provided balance during his 65-minute shift. His substitution coincided with Madrid’s alarming drop in control.
Fran García (6/10):
A rare consistent performer—energetic in attack, disciplined in defense. Won key duels and emerged with credit amid the chaos.
Midfield
Dani Ceballos (5/10):
Dictated play effectively in the first half, anchoring midfield with composure. Faded after halftime as his influence waned, leaving Madrid exposed in central areas.
Federico Valverde (5/10):
Struggled to adapt to the defensive midfield role where he’s typically excelled this season. Showed uncharacteristic fatigue, lacking his usual relentless energy.
Jude Bellingham (6/10):
Delivered a crucial assist for Mbappé’s opener but failed to impose himself otherwise. Spent too much time protesting decisions and was caught ball-watching on Celta’s second.
Arda Güler (8/10) – STAR MAN:
A scintillating performance from start to finish. Flawless first-half passing, a sublime goal, and an assist for the third. Showed remarkable defensive commitment when others switched off.
Attack
Kylian Mbappé (7/10):
A tale of two halves – anonymous for long stretches before erupting with a trademark thunderbolt into the top corner, followed by a composed second. Proved once again that world-class quality needs just moments to shine.
Vinicius Jr (5/10):
Struggled to make any meaningful impact on the game. A few promising runs came to nothing, with his finishing particularly wayward when chances did fall his way. An uncharacteristically quiet night for the Brazilian winger.
Subs & Manager
Jacobo Ramón (5/10):
Struggled to stabilize the defense after coming on, with Celta finding the net twice during his time on the pitch. A difficult cameo appearance for the young defender.
Luka Modrić (N/A):
Limited impact in his brief time on the field, uncharacteristically quiet as the game largely bypassed the veteran midfielder.
Brahim Díaz (N/A):
Found it hard to make his mark in this chaotic match, though credit for maintaining his work rate throughout his time on the pitch.
Carlo Ancelotti (5/10):
A concerning tactical performance. Madrid looked vulnerable defensively throughout and were fortunate to escape with all three points. Questions will be asked about the team’s organization as the manager prepares for his departure.
