Real Madrid suffered a shocking and chaotic defeat at the Santiago Bernabéu on Snday.
Consequently, their La Liga title ambitions have received a severe blow after a disastrous 2-0 home loss to a resilient Celta Vigo.
Defensive Discipline Evaporates in Costly First Half
From the outset, Madrid’s performance lacked its usual authority. The defensive line, in particular, looked uncharacteristically vulnerable.
As a result, Celta Vigo grew in confidence and carved open the hosts’ defense midway through the first half. Subsequently, the visitors clinically took the lead, silencing the home crowd.
The situation rapidly deteriorated for Alonso’s side. First, defender Fran García received a red card for a reckless an an avoidable challenge, forcing Madrid to play the final quarter of the match with ten men.
To make matters worse, left back Carreras also saw red just before full time after a second bookable offense. This dramatic collapse in discipline left Los Blancos in tatters, facing a numerical disadvantage and a one-goal deficit.
Frustration Boils Over as Madrid’s Fightback Fails
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Madrid pushed forward in the final five minutes.
However, their attacking play lacked precision and clarity. Meanwhile, Celta defended with immense organization and struck a decisive second goal on the counter-attack, effectively ending the contest.
The team’s frustration then reached a boiling point in injury time. Notably, an official from the Madrid bench was also sent off, perfectly capping a night of utter turmoil for the reigning champions.
League Standings Widen as Dressing Room Tensions Mount
This damaging result has significant implications for the La Liga title race. Barcelona now sits comfortably at the top with 40 points.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid remains second, but the gap has widened to a concerning four points. This home defeat, therefore, represents a major missed opportunity to apply pressure on their arch-rivals.
More importantly, this loss adds to a growing sense of crisis at the Bernabéu.
Recently, the team has delivered a series of unsatisfactory performances. Consequently, tensions in the Madrid dressing room will reportedly rise.
The lack of discipline and cohesive play will undoubtedly prompt serious questions for manager Alonso.
The team must now find answers quickly, or they risk watching the league title slip further from their grasp.
