Real Madrid suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Celta Vigo in La Liga at the Santiago Bernabeu on 7 December 2025, finishing with nine men after two red cards. The result handed Celta a famous away win and left Real four points behind leaders Barcelona in the title race.
Match overview
Real Madrid hosted Celta Vigo in a 2025–26 La Liga clash at the Bernabeu, where the visitors struck twice in the second half through Swedish forward Williot Swedberg. Swedberg, introduced from the bench, scored with a clever flick around the 53rd–54th minute and added a second in stoppage time to seal the 2-0 victory.
The defeat was Real Madrid’s first home loss of the season in all competitions and ended a previously perfect league run at the Bernabeu. It also marked just the second clean sheet in 15 league games for Celta Vigo, underlining the significance of the result for the Galician side.
Key match facts
| Category | Detail |
| Competition | La Liga 2025–26 |
| Date | 7 December 2025 |
| Venue | Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid |
| Final score | Real Madrid 0–2 Celta Vigo |
| Celta goal scorer | Williot Swedberg (2 goals – second-half and stoppage time) |
| Real Madrid red cards | Fran García (second yellow, ~64’), Álvaro Carreras (second yellow, stoppage time) |
| Real’s home record | First defeat at Bernabeu in 2025–26 across all competitions |
| Table impact | Real four points behind Barcelona; Celta up to 10th place |
Key moments and the red cards
The match remained goalless at half-time, with Real Madrid creating the clearer chances but failing to convert, as Celta’s goalkeeper Ionut Radu denied efforts from Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé. Early in the second half, Celta punished that wastefulness when Bryan Zaragoza’s cross was redirected by Swedberg past Thibaut Courtois for the opener.
Real’s night unraveled after the breakthrough, beginning with Fran García’s dismissal for two yellow cards in quick succession, including a foul on Swedberg around the 64th minute. Deep into stoppage time, Álvaro Carreras also received a second yellow card, leaving Madrid with nine players as frustration boiled over in front of their home fans.
With Real stretched, Celta exploited the extra space in transition, and Swedberg broke clear again in added time, rounding Courtois to score his second and confirm the upset. The brace, meaning two goals in one match, transformed the game and highlighted Celta’s efficiency compared with Madrid’s missed opportunities.
Timeline of major incidents
| Minute (approx.) | Event |
| First half | Real create chances; Radu saves from Bellingham and Mbappé |
| 53’–54’ | Swedberg redirects Zaragoza’s cross to put Celta 1–0 up |
| ~64’ | Fran García sent off after two quick yellow cards |
| 90’+ | Álvaro Carreras dismissed for a second yellow card |
| 90’+ | Swedberg rounds Courtois and scores Celta’s second |
Tactical story and standout performances
Despite the loss, Real Madrid dominated territory for long spells, especially before going down to ten men, pushing Celta deep into their own half and generating a series of half-chances. Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior and Bellingham all had sights of goal but either missed the target or were denied by Radu’s reflexes.
Celta Vigo, by contrast, executed a compact defensive game plan and relied on quick counters, taking advantage of Madrid’s high defensive line and increasing desperation after the first red card. Swedberg’s movement between the lines and Radu’s composed goalkeeping were central to a performance that delivered just Celta’s second win in their last three league matches.
Real also suffered a setback when defender Éder Militão was forced off injured in the first half, adding to coach Xabi Alonso’s concerns ahead of a busy December schedule. The combination of an injury to a key centre-back, profligate finishing, and two dismissals left Madrid exposed to Celta’s late counterpunch.
Impact on La Liga title race
The defeat leaves Real Madrid on 36 points from 16 league games, with a record of 11 wins, three draws and two losses. Barcelona, sitting top of the table, hold a four-point advantage, increasing the pressure on Madrid as the season approaches its midway point.
Celta Vigo’s victory lifts them into the top half of the table, around 10th place, after what had been an inconsistent start to the campaign. For a side that had kept only one clean sheet in their previous 14 league matches, shutting out one of La Liga’s strongest attacks at the Bernabeu is a major confidence boost.
Standings snapshot after the match
| Team | Position (approx.) | Points | Note |
| Barcelona | 1st | 40 | Four points clear at the top |
| Real Madrid | 2nd | 36 | First home defeat of season |
| Celta Vigo | ~10th | – | Second win in last three league games |
What comes next for Real Madrid and Celta
In post-match comments, Xabi Alonso acknowledged Madrid’s frustration, criticizing aspects of the refereeing but stressing that the team must respond quickly and “show a different face” in the upcoming Champions League meeting with Manchester City. With suspensions for Fran García and Álvaro Carreras and fitness concerns over Militão, squad rotation and defensive options will be central issues in the coming weeks.
For Celta Vigo, the win at the Bernabeu could serve as a turning point, reinforcing belief in their tactical approach and providing valuable momentum for the rest of their league campaign. Coach and players alike will look to build on a night when disciplined defending, clinical finishing and composure under pressure combined to shock one of Spain’s giants.
