Real Madrid 3–2 Celta de Vigo

Arda Guler continues to impress for Real Madrid, playing a pivotal role in their 3-2 victory against Celta Vigo at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Turkish midfielder scored a stunning goal and provided an assist for Kylian Mbappe, contributing significantly to the win.

Guler was substituted late in the match for Luka Modric, and the Bernabeu gave him a standing ovation for his performance, a testament to his growing influence within the squad.

"We’re happy with the win, especially before such an important match like El Clásico," Guler said after the match, reflecting on the team’s performance.

"We started very well, with a 3-0 lead, but we should have finished the match better."

"El Clasico is a great opportunity to beat them, and that’s why we want to go out with all our strength to take the three points and win La Liga."

The 20-year-old’s individual brilliance was on full display as he scored a magnificent goal, one that he had worked on repeatedly in training. "My goal was a good goal," he said.

"We always work on these shots after training, and I’m happy to have scored with such a beautiful shot."

Guler also provided a pinpoint assist for Mbappe’s goal, downplaying his role in the assist, but acknowledging the French forward’s exceptional run:

"The assist for Mbappe wasn’t a big deal; he had a great run, and I just found him very well."

Despite his outstanding performance, Guler remained grounded, expressing his gratitude towards the fans for their unwavering support.

"They always support us, and they gave me a lot of strength today," he said, appreciating the energy from the Bernabéu crowd.

While Guler was basking in praise, midfielder Federico Valverde took a more critical view of the team’s performance, particularly in the second half.

Despite a dominant first half, in which Real Madrid raced to a 3-0 lead, they allowed Celta to mount a comeback and narrow the scoreline to 3-2.

"It was important to win, but we can’t let this happen. I think we had a very good first half, but then we collapsed, and that’s something that can’t happen," Valverde said.

"We leave too many minutes for the opponent to settle in, and Celta is a great team. They played well and gave us a hard time."

Valverde’s concerns about the team’s fragility in the second half were clear, with the midfielder stressing the need for improvement ahead of the critical match against Barcelona:

"The best thing about the first half was playing very well with the ball and having a great attitude when defending. We lacked that a lot in the second half, and we have to improve on that."

Real Madrid now turn their attention to the decisive La Liga clash with Barcelona, a match that could determine the outcome of their title challenge.

With just a few games left in the season, Valverde acknowledged the gravity of the upcoming Clasico:

"I think it’s the game of the year for us. It’s our last chance to win La Liga, to keep fighting. It’s a big game that everyone at Real Madrid wants to win, and we’ll try to give our all to take the three points."

Ancelotti’s side will need to address their defensive frailties and build on the positive aspects of their first-half performance if they are to have any chance of catching Barcelona in the title race.

A win in the Clasico could revive their hopes, while a loss would likely see them fall further behind their rivals.