Real Madrid defeated Celta Vigo 3-2 to move within sight of La Liga’s top two teams, Kylian Mbappe, twice.
Madrid held on to a late Celta fightback to maintain the four-point lead over the Catalans ahead of the Clasico game on Sunday after the Catalans lost to Valladolid on Saturday.
Second-placed leaders Real Madrid were forced to hold on to a seventh-placed Celta side in Santiago Bernabeu, hoping to win the next season in European competition.
Los Blancos are still hopeful of beating Hansi Flick’s side in La Liga despite Los Blancos’ failed Champions League defense and Los Blancos’ failed Copa del Rey final against Barcelona last week.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side faced a string of defensive injuries before Carlo Ancelotti’s side took control with Turkish 20-year-old Arda Guler pulling the strings after riding out a first wave of Celta chances.
Rodrygo started in his place and made the most of Rodrygo’s illness when he went out with him.
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In the opening moments, Guler showed that his ambition has no limits with a spectacular overhead effort that was directed wide of the intended target.
As a threat to Celta, former Barcelona defender Marcos Alonso headed just over before forcing a fine save from Thibaut Courtois.
As Madrid stifled the visitors, Aurelien Tchouameni headed over when he was in a better position at the other end.
After 33 minutes, Guler skillfully created some space in the box before brilliantly curled a strike past Vicente Guaita. Madrid opened the scoring.
At the close of a quick breakaway, Mbappe doubled Madrid’s lead after 39 minutes.
When Bellingham set Mbappe free down the right, Courtois successfully saved from Borja Iglesias and Madrid immediately moved forward.
The French superstar ruthlessly flew inside Guaita from within the area.
Mbappe scored his 24th league goal of the year just three minutes into the second half, putting him one point ahead of Robert Lewandowski, the top scorer for Barcelona.
Guler created the ball by playing in the striker with a perfectly-weighted ball, and Mbappe finished low with a left bootstroke.
After a corner was mistakenly given to Celta, it appeared as though Madrid had won the match, but Javier Rodriguez reclaimed control with a close finish.
Rodriguez was present to stop Pablo Duran’s backheeled effort on the line, but Lucas Vazquez blocked it.
The Galicians immediately had more attacking momentum when Iago Aspas was called off the bench and sent Williot Swedberg to score a superb pass to slot a second past Courtois.
The Belgian goalkeeper was heartbroken moments later when Duran’s shot slipped out of his hands and had potential to have squirmed across the line behind him if it hadn’t come to a stop on the grass.
With a win over Clasico, Barcelona would have won the title next weekend if Madrid had conceded more points.
