Real Madrid may have fallen to Celta Vigo (0-2) at the end of this 15th round of La Liga , but it was above all an evening of extreme tension that the Bernabéu witnessed. Four days after their impressive victory in Bilbao (0-3), Xabi Alonso 's players collapsed at home in a scenario of total chaos, marked by three red cards, boos from their own fans, and a general feeling of loss of control. More than just a defeat, this setback serves as a major wake-up call for a team already fragile.
Shaken by a fearless Celta Vigo side, who had already held their own against Barcelona, Real Madrid quickly displayed an unusual nervousness. The Galician counter-attacks, orchestrated by Zaragoza and Durán, tormented a Madrid defense that was completely makeshift due to a significant injury list (Huijsen, Carvajal, Alaba, Mendy, and Alexander-Arnold). And as if the situation wasn't already precarious, Éder Militão was forced to leave the pitch in the 24th minute with a hamstring injury and will potentially be out for three months. The Bernabéu, initially impatient, quickly turned hostile as the minutes ticked by and Real Madrid struggled to find a way through.
García and Carreras, symbols of a worrying nervousness
The emotional turning point of the match came in the second half. Found by Zaragoza, Williot Swedberg beat Courtois with a magnificent finish to open the scoring (53rd minute). This goal only heightened the already palpable tension in Madrid. A few minutes later, Fran García was booked twice (63rd, 64th minutes), first for a challenge deemed too aggressive, then for a vehement protest that turned the game on its head. Two yellow cards in quick succession plunged the stadium into shock and anger. The Madrid players completely lost their composure, multiplying their protests and gestures of frustration, while Celta Vigo played intelligently.
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Oh le golazo de Williot Swedberg contre le Real Madrid !
— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) December 7, 2025
Une superbe talonnade de l'extérieur qui ne laisse aucune chance à Thibaut Courtois ! pic.twitter.com/MqVp91KkJ8
Reduced to ten men, Real Madrid never regained their composure. Worse still, the collective tension steadily increased until the final explosion. In stoppage time, Carreras was also sent off (90+1, 90+2) for what was deemed excessive protest, leaving Real with nine men in a match that quickly spiraled out of control. Endrick, who had remained on the bench, was also shown a red card for dissent. Moments later, Iago Aspas delivered a brilliant through ball behind the defense. Swedberg then rounded Thibaut Courtois before literally running into the net with the ball to score his second goal (90+3). A sublime piece of skill that sealed a nightmarish evening.
Mbappé and Vinicius were absent, leaving the bench unused.
In this tense atmosphere, Real Madrid also paid the price for their inability to remain composed in key moments. Up front, the quartet of Mbappé, Vinicius, Bellingham, and Valverde gradually fell apart. In midfield, Tchouaméni failed to calm the game or relieve the pressure, while Güler was once again invisible. And on the bench, Xabi Alonso's choices were questionable once again: the continued absence of Rodrygo and the non-use of Camavinga are all decisions that raise eyebrows in such a tense context.
Beyond the match itself, this defeat leaves deep scars. It allows FC Barcelona to take a four-point lead at the top of La Liga and gave Celta Vigo their first victory at the Bernabéu since November 2006. But it is above all the image of a Real Madrid team under constant pressure and unable to control its emotions that is worrying. Between a decimated defense, a tense squad, and an increasingly strained relationship with the referees, times are tough in Madrid. And to make matters worse, Mbappé's teammates will host Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday , where the slightest misstep risks further inflaming the fans' anger…
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