Federico Valverde’s late, heavily deflected strike secured a vital 2-1 victory for Real Madrid over Celta Vigo, masking a lackluster performance and defensive lapses from Los Blancos.
Thibaut Courtois – 6/10: The Belgian goalkeeper experienced a relatively quiet evening at the Balaidos. He dealt comfortably with three routine saves throughout the match and was left entirely exposed for Celta’s equalizer, giving him little chance to maintain a clean sheet.
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 4/10: It was a night to forget for the Englishman, whose defensive hesitation allowed Williot Swedberg to create the leveler. He struggled to exert his usual influence on the ball and has yet to find his stride in the iconic white shirt since his move.
Raul Asencio – 5/10: The youngster had a mixed outing, notably failing to track Borja Iglesias on the goal that brought Celta level. His performance was further hindered by a series of reckless challenges that put the backline under unnecessary pressure.
Antonio Rudiger – 6/10: While he wasn’t forced into many high-stakes defensive actions, the German international was uncharacteristically slow in moving the ball from the back. He provided a stable presence but lacked his usual progressive impact on the game.
Ferland Mendy – 6/10: Returning from a significant injury layoff, the Frenchman looked solid and provided essential cover on the left flank. He made a crucial late-game intervention that prevented Celta from taking the lead during a dangerous counter-attack.
Aurelien Tchouameni – 7/10: The standout performer in the Madrid engine room, Tchouameni opened the scoring with a brilliant curled effort from distance. He anchored the midfield with a commanding presence and was unlucky not to add a second shortly after.
Federico Valverde – 6/10: The Uruguayan’s relentless work rate was on full display as he covered every blade of grass. While his winning goal in the 95th minute owed a great deal to a massive deflection, his willingness to shoot ultimately secured the three points.
Thiago Pitarch – 6/10: Pitarch provided a functional presence in the midfield but failed to truly influence the tempo or creativity of the side. He played a safe game, acting more as a tactical placeholder than a dynamic playmaker during his time on the pitch.
Vinicius Jr – 7/10: Playing in a more centralized role, the Brazilian was a constant thorn in Celta’s side, hitting the woodwork early on. Though he lacked the final clinical touch on this occasion, his dribbling and movement remained the team’s primary offensive threat.
Arda Guler – 6/10: Deployed in an unfamiliar false nine role, the Turkish starlet struggled to impose himself on the game. He saw very little of the ball in congested areas and was eventually replaced after 65 minutes of mixed success.
Brahim Diaz – 6/10: Starting on the right wing, Diaz worked hard to link the play and created a handful of half-chances for his teammates. It was a disciplined and solid shift, even if he didn’t manage to produce a game-breaking moment.