Mbappé chases Ronaldo’s record as Real Madrid Seek vital La Liga Win against Celta Vigo
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Real Madrid will aim to reignite their La Liga title challenge when they host Celta Vigo on Sunday, December 7th at 9pm (20:00 GMT). The match, to be broadcast on Al Jazeera Sport with buildup beginning at 5pm (17:00 GMT), comes at a crucial juncture for Los Blancos, who are seeking only their second top-flight victory in five matches and a chance to close the gap on league leaders Barcelona to a single point.
A Dip in Form for the Champions
Despite entering the season as firm favorites, Real Madrid’s recent form has allowed Barcelona to seize the top spot in La Liga, prompting questions about the future of coach Xabi Alonso. While historically dominant in Spanish domestic football, the team’s current struggles highlight a need for consistency. A recent 3-0 victory at Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday offered a much-needed boost, marking their first La Liga win in four games, but the pressure remains.
mbappé’s Historic Pursuit
much of the focus surrounding Real Madrid centers on the sensational form of Kylian Mbappé. The French superstar is drawing comparisons to club legend Cristiano Ronaldo, having 69 goals in 79 games since joining from paris Saint-Germain in 2024, compared to Ronaldo’s remarkable tally of 450 goals in 438 matches for the club. Mbappé has four upcoming matches – against Manchester City, Alaves, and Sevilla – to surpass Ronaldo’s record, a feat he acknowledges was fueled by admiring Ronaldo as a child, even having posters of the Portuguese icon on his wall.
Recent encounters and Celta’s Challenge
Real Madrid enters the match with a dominant head-to-head record against Celta Vigo, having won 39 of their 58 encounters. They are currently on a 19-match unbeaten streak against Celta, winning 16 of those games. Their last meeting in May saw Real emerge victorious with a 3-2 scoreline, fueled by braces from Arda Guler and Mbappé. However, Celta’s impressive away form this season – with three wins, two draws, and only one loss – suggests they coudl pose a significant upset.
Despite a recent dip in form with three defeats in their last four games after an eight-match unbeaten run, Celta’s away record is notably stronger than their home performances.They secured their first La Liga win of the season with a 3-2 victory at Osasuna after nine games, seven of which ended in draws. Celta last overcame Real Madrid in 2017, a 2-1 win in the Copa del Rey, while their last league victory dates back to 2014, a 2-0 triumph that disrupted Real’s title aspirations.
Team News and Predicted Lineups
Real Madrid will be without Dani Carvajal, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ferland Mendy, Dean Huijsen, and David Alaba due to injury. Eduardo Camavinga is a doubt with an ankle knock but has been included in the squad.
Real Madrid Predicted Starting Lineup: Courtois,Sencio,Military,Rudiger,Races,Guler,Valverde,Tchoumeni,Bellingham,Vinicius,Mbappé.
Celta Vigo will be missing Joseph Aidoo and Mihailo Ristic through injury, but leading scorer Borja Iglesias, with eight goals this season, will return alongside othre key players following their midweek copa del Rey win.
Celta Vigo Predicted Starting Lineup: Radu, Alonso, Starfelt, J Rodriguez, Rueda, D Rodriguez, Moriba, Carreira, Zaragoza, Iglesias, Aspas.
Real Madrid’s strong home record – winning all six La Liga matches at the Santiago Bernabéu this season while netting 14 and conceding only three – will undoubtedly be a factor. However, Celta Vigo’s resilience and ability to cause problems on the road suggest a competitive encounter is in store.
