Real Madrid snatched a vital victory from a potential draw at Balaidos, with Aurelien Tchouameni once again shining for the team.
Thibaut Courtois – 8
Courtois made two outstanding saves in the first half, ensuring Real Madrid stayed on level terms. While his performance was consistent with his usual standards, his impact was nonetheless impressive.
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 4
A lackluster display from Alexander-Arnold, who failed to justify his offensive contributions. He delivered one superb pass to Vinicius Junior early on but then struggled with several inaccurate crosses. He was easily beaten by Williot Swedberg for Celta’s equalizer, though he improved in the second half, albeit remaining wasteful with the ball.
Raul Asencio – 8
Despite playing through pain, Asencio delivered a solid performance, making crucial interventions to disrupt Celta’s attacks. He remained resolute even when Real Madrid seemed vulnerable.
Antonio Rudiger – 7
Rudiger had a few struggles in the first half, often targeted in conjunction with Alexander-Arnold, leading to needless fouls. However, he cleaned up his game in the second half, effectively handling Celta’s forwards.
Ferland Mendy – 7.5
Mendy’s return was impressive, highlighted by a key covering run that thwarted Fer Lopez’s scoring chance in the second half. True to form, he was defensively sound and conservative with his distribution.
Fede Valverde – 6.5
Valverde’s winning goal was heavily deflected, with this being his third attempt from favorable positions—it’s the only one that was on target. He appeared somewhat out of sorts without space to exploit.
Arda Guler – 6
Guler set up Tchouameni for the opening goal but struggled thereafter. Although he found himself in good positions, he repeatedly had his through balls intercepted due to impatience and a lack of options, leading to his substitution just past the hour mark.
Aurelien Tchouameni – 8.5
Aside from a slip that led to Celta Vigo’s first goal, Tchouameni delivered an exceptional performance. He was the standout player for Real Madrid, consistently recycling possession and stifling Celta’s midfield. His brilliant goal turned out to be decisive.
Thiago Pitarch – 6.5
Pitarch was active without the ball, bringing much-needed energy to midfield. However, he often played it safe with his passes, allowing Celta to relieve pressure with careless fouls.
Brahim Diaz – 4
Diaz had a quiet game, struggling to get involved and providing little inspiration when he did manage to touch the ball.
Vinicius Junior – 5
Though he received limited service, Vinicius had a prime opportunity in the 10th minute that he failed to convert. He remained largely ineffective, with just a few shots in the second half that posed no trouble for Ionut Radu.
Substitutes
Cesar Palacios – 7
Palacios made a strong impact off the bench, supporting the forwards and regaining possession on multiple occasions. He displayed a quick passing style, signaling promising potential.
Gonzalo Garcia – 4
Garcia’s 15-minute stint was largely forgettable; his only touch came during a late run towards goal when he should have passed to a free Vinicius on the left.
Manuel Angel – N/A
Angel made a brief appearance in the 90th minute, but he managed to win the ball back high up the pitch, contributing cleanly despite limited time.