Real Madrid needs a win against Celta Vigo to stay close to Barcelona in the La Liga title race. The article covers match details, odds, lineups, key storylines, and how to watch the game live.
The upcoming La Liga match between Real Madrid and Celta Vigo is scheduled for Sunday, May 4 at 8 a.m. ET at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid, Spain. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+. The current betting odds are Real Madrid -250, Draw +425, and Celta Vigo +550.
In their most recent encounter during the Copa del Rey, Celta Vigo challenged Real Madrid fiercely before losing in extra time by three unanswered goals. Despite Real Madrid holding a 2-0 lead, Celta managed to equalize late in the match, only for Real Madrid's Federico Valverde and Endrick to secure the win in extra time. This victory was a highlight for Real Madrid amidst a difficult season.
Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid's coach who is expected to leave the club at season's end, addressed his future before the game. He confirmed he won't discuss his next steps until May 25, even though his contract runs until 2026. The general expectation is that he will take over as Brazil's national coach, though the timing related to the Club World Cup remains unclear.
Real Madrid's expected starting lineup includes Thibaut Courtois, Fran Garcia, Raul Asencio, Aurelien Tchouameni, Lucas Vazquez, Jude Bellingham, Dani Ceballos, Arda Guler, Federico Valverde, Kylian Mbappe, and Vinicius Junior. Celta Vigo is expected to field Vicente Guaita, Sergio Carreira, Javi Rodriguez, Yoel Lago, Marcos Alonso, Oscar Mingueza, Williot Swedberg, Ilaix Moriba, Fran Beltran, Pablo Duran, and Borja Iglesias.
Aurelien Tchouameni is a key player to watch for Real Madrid. Despite having a strong defensive record, Real Madrid has scored significantly fewer goals than Barcelona this season. With teammate Antonio Rudiger suspended, Tchouameni’s defensive role becomes crucial in managing Celta Vigo’s physical forward, Borja Iglesias.
The main narrative revolves around whether Real Madrid can rebound in the La Liga race. They need to win this game and hope Barcelona drops points to keep their title hopes alive. Given Rudiger's absence, Real Madrid's defense might be vulnerable as Celta Vigo looks to exploit this by pushing forward.
The prediction favors Real Madrid to edge out Celta Vigo 2-1. With Jude Bellingham’s suspension overturned, Real Madrid’s attack, led by Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior, is expected to create enough pressure to secure the win, although the defense might concede a goal.
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