Real Madrid easily outclassed Celta Vigo 2-0 at the Santiago-Bernabéu stadium on Saturday and are temporarily within seven points of the leader in the standings, FC Barcelona, which receives Atlético Madrid on Sunday (4:15 p.m.) for the big poster of the 30th league day. Marco Asensio opened the scoring just before the break by taking over from the left a delivery from Vinicius, who tumbled on his left side (42nd), then Eder Militao doubled the lead on the way back from the locker room (48th), with a header, to the fallout of a corner from Asensio.
A result that allows the Merengues to continue their good progress, four days after validating their ticket for the last four of the Champions League against Chelsea (2-0, 0-2) and fifteen days before their King’s Cup final against Osasuna, May 6 in Seville.
This success also boosted the confidence of the second knives launched by Carlo Ancelotti on Saturday evening. Marco Asensio, for example, scored his 11th goal and delivered his 7th assist of the season in all competitions, and was applauded by the entire Bernabéu when he came out in the 76th minute in place of Lucas Vazquez. Among the executives too, morale is high: with his powerful header, Militao scored his 10th headed goal at the “White House” since his arrival in 2019 (out of eleven goals), and became the defender with the most goals scored this season in La Liga (5). Eduardo Camavinga even almost triggered the 3-0 goal after a wild ride, but Rodrygo’s cross, served by the young French international, flew away.
For their part, Celta Vigo, attractive at the start of the season, are now stuck in the middle of the standings (12th with 36 points), and are only eight points ahead of the red zone: the Galicians have not won the least of their last four matches in La Liga, and their last victory dates back to March 18, on the ground of Espanyol Barcelona (3-1).
Earlier in the day, Osasuna had taken over Betis Sevilla 3-2 at El Sadar, thanks in particular to an express double from Ante Budimir (6th, 11th) on two services from Kike Barja, and a third goal from Jon Moncayola (41st). Juan Miranda (16th) and Guido Rodriguez (70th) tried to bring their team up to standard, but the Sevillians remained too short. Result: the race for Europe is as undecided as ever. Betis (5th with 48 points) missed the opportunity to come back on the heels of Real Sociedad, 4th with 54 pts after their narrow 2-1 success in San Sebastian against Rayo Vallecano.
The emblematic Isi Palazon unblocked the situation for the people of Madrid (57th), but the Basques replied in stride by Alexander Sorloth (59th) and benefited from an own goal from French defender Florian Lejeune to snatch the three points . Athletic Bilbao dominated Almeria 2-1 without shaking thanks to two goals from Nico Williams (9th) and Oscar de Marcos (56th), and remains a short distance from Villarreal (6th, 47 points), first team qualified for European competitions.