Real Madrid will attempt to keep La Liga’s title race alive when they face Celta Vigo on Sunday.
Los Blancos suffered a demoralising defeat to Barcelona in the final of the Copa del Rey last week, meaning the league is their last chance to end the season with silverware to add to their UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Intercontinental Cup trophies.
Barca came from behind to beat bottom-of-the-table Valladolid on Saturday, meaning the gap at the summit is now seven points. El Clasico in Catalonia is up next on May 11, so Madrid know they cannot afford to let that gap grow this weekend.
Carlo Ancelotti could be facing the final few games of his second spell in charge, with a change of coach expected regardless of whether the Italian agrees a deal with the Brazil national team. He will be desperate to sustain Madrid’s challenge for one more league title before he departs.
Real Madrid vs. Celta Vigo lineups, confirmed starting 11, team news
Ancelotti has big problems in defence, not just for this game but for the duration of the run-in.
Antonio Rudiger, given a six-game ban for throwing an object towards the referee in the Copa final loss to Barcelona, has undergone knee surgery and is out of action anyway. Ferland Mendy has had an operation on a tendon problem, and David Alaba underwent a procedure on his left meniscus.
Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao are also still sidelined, but Lucas Vazquez plays at right-back, his two-game ban for his off-the-field red card being restricted to Copa games.
Eduardo Camavinga has a groin injury and Rodrygo misses out through illness, but Kylian Mbappe is fit to start after coming off the bench in the cup final.
Real Madrid (4-2-3-1, right to left): Courtois (GK) — Vazquez, Asencio, Tchouameni, Garcia — Valverde, Ceballos — Guler, Bellingham, Vinicius — Mbappe
Real Madrid subs: Lunin (GK), Mestre (GK), Modric, Endrick, Vallejo, Brahim, Youssef, Jacobo
Injured: Rudiger (knee), Mendy (thigh), Alaba (knee), Camavinga (groin), Rodrygo (illness), Carvajal (knee), Militao (knee)Suspended: Rudiger
Carl Starfelt had been close to returning for Celta after missing two league games with a hamstring injury, but he ruptured a tendon in training and will now miss the final games of the season.
Otherwise, Claudio Giraldez has a strong-looking squad at his disposal. Madrid-born youngster Fer Lopez makes starts, having scored his second La Liga goal in last weekend’s impressive 3-0 win over Villarreal.
Celta Vigo lineup (3-4-3, right to left): Guaita (GK) — Lago, Javi Rodriguez, Alonso — Carreira, Sotelo, Beltran, Mingueza — Lopez, Iglesias, A. Gonzalez
Celta Vigo subs:Villar (GK), Moriba, Aspas, Cervi, Losada, Jailson, Duran, Swedbergh, Ristic, Alvarez, Dominguez, D. Rodriguez
Injured: Starfelt (thigh)Suspended: None
Real Madrid vs. Celta Vigo live stream, TV channel
Here’s how to watch this La Liga match across selected areas of the world’s major regions:
