After crushing defeats by Arsenal within the Champions League and Barcelona within the Copa del Rey, Real Madrid have one remaining ambition — defending their La Liga title. Los Blancos host Celta Vigo on Sunday aiming to remain scorching on league leaders Barcelona’s tail, regardless of bruises from the cup ultimate fallout this week. Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger was banned for six matches for throwing an object on the referee, and likewise selected to bear a knee operation, which means he’s out till the tip of the season. Ferland Mendy and David Alaba have been additionally dominated out injured for the remainder of the marketing campaign, becoming a member of long-term absentees Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao on the sidelines.
Carlo Ancelotti’s defence, one of many workforce’s weak factors typically this season, is in tatters as a Celta facet hoping to safe European soccer subsequent season go to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Madrid, second and trailing Barcelona by 4 factors, have misplaced 5 matches in La Liga this season after stumbling simply as soon as of their earlier marketing campaign, as they lifted the title.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti, poised to depart the membership on the finish of the season, nonetheless believes his workforce can defend their crown.
Out of the Champions League, Madrid have had per week to relaxation and get better from the Copa ultimate defeat on Saturday.
“We have time to arrange the video games towards Celta and Barcelona, we’ve got to proceed competing till the tip,” insisted the Italian coach.
After Celta, Madrid go to the Catalan giants on the Olympic Stadium in a conflict which might go a protracted method to deciding the destiny of the title race.
Madrid have to arrive at that match with out the four-point hole rising, with Barcelona in motion at Real Valladolid on Saturday, between the 2 legs of their Champions League semi-final towards Inter Milan.
Madrid beat Celta Vigo within the Copa del Rey final 16 on the way in which to the ultimate, though it was a controversial night time after the Galician facet weren’t awarded what regarded a possible penalty.
“All of Spain noticed it,” mentioned Celta striker Iago Aspas this week forward of his workforce’s return to the Bernabeu.
Despite Madrid’s struggles, Aspas mentioned he wouldn’t rule them out of the title race.
“In soccer you possibly can by no means rule out something, generally it appears a workforce would possibly lose however then they win,” added Aspas.
“We’ll attempt to be the protagonists, have the ball, assault… and after that, it might go properly or not for us.”
Player to observe: Ayoze Perez
As Villarreal shut in on a Champions League spot for subsequent season, striker Ayoze Perez can be hoping to complete the season as the highest Spanish scorer in La Liga. The Villarreal ahead has 14 objectives, one behind Athletic Bilbao’s Oihan Sancet, who’s at the moment recovering from harm. Perez might add to his tally as Osasuna go to on Saturday. Â
Key stats
7 – outfield gamers who’ve taken half in every of their membership’s 33 league matches to this point this season
69 – Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe has probably the most photographs on the right track this season
100 – Barcelona star Lamine Yamal, who made his debut two years in the past, reached a century of video games for the membership this week towards Inter Milan
Fixtures
Friday (all occasions GMT)
Rayo Vallecano v Getafe (1900)
Saturday
Alaves v Atletico Madrid (1200), Villarreal v Osasuna (1415), Las Palmas v Valencia (1630), Valladolid v Barcelona (1900)
Sunday
Real Madrid v Celta Vigo (1200), Sevilla v Leganes (1415), Espanyol v Real Betis (1630), Real Sociedad v Athletic Bilbao (1900)
Monday
Girona v Mallorca (1900)
rbs/nf
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