Overview
- Aurélien Tchouaméni put Madrid ahead in the 11th minute before Borja Iglesias leveled for Celta in the 25th after a cutback from Williot Swedberg.
- Federico Valverde struck from the edge of the box in stoppage time, with his shot taking a decisive deflection off Marcos Alonso to beat Ionuț Radu.
- Thibaut Courtois made key saves, Vinícius Júnior hit the post early, and Iago Aspas struck the woodwork late as both teams chased a winner.
- Madrid played with a depleted squad, missing Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo, while Álvaro Arbeloa relied on youngsters including 18-year-old starter Thiago Pitarch.
- The win halted a run of two league defeats, kept the title race tight with Barcelona one point ahead, and came days before Madrid host Manchester City in the Champions League last 16.