Match ends, Real Madrid 4, Celta Vigo 0.
Real MadridReal Madrid4Celta VigoCelta Vigo0
Real Madrid moved a step closer to regaining Spain's La Liga title as they thrashed Rafael Benitez's Celta Vigo side to restore a seven-point lead.
Without the suspended Jude Bellingham, Madrid led when Vinicius Jr stabbed in from close range after his first effort was blocked by Celta keeper Vicente Guaita.
It was the least Carlo Ancelotti's side deserved after a dominant first half.
The hosts were sloppier after the break - to the frustration of the Bernabeu fans - but Celta were unable to take advantage.
Madrid missed chances through Rodrygo and Brahim Diaz before they wrapped the game up with three goals in the final 11 minutes.
They got the first of those late goals from another set-piece when an unmarked Antonio Rudiger headed against the bar and the ball rebounded in off former Crystal Palace keeper Guaita.
That ended Celta's resistance and moments later another defensive mess led to the third goal.
Vinicius' cross from the left caused havoc between Guaita and Carlos Dominguez, with the defender haplessly diverting an attempted clearance into his own goal.
Turkish teenager Arda Guler then netted his first Madrid goal by slotting in from a tight angle moments after coming on the pitch as a substitute.
With nearest challengers Girona and Barcelona winning earlier this weekend, Madrid could not afford to offer hope to their rivals with a slip against relegation-threatened Celta.
Dropping points rarely looked likely but the tension which had lingered into the final half-hour disappeared with the three late goals.
The demanding Bernabeu crowd's exasperation seemed to result from a second home game in five days where their team did not put away the visiting team as they would have hoped.
Los Blancos were far from their best when they scraped past RB Leipzig on Wednesday to reach the Champions League quarter-finals.
Line-ups
Real Madrid
Formation 4-3-1-2
- 13Lunin
- 17Vázquez
- 22Rüdiger
- 6Nacho
- 23Mendy
- 15Valverde
- 10ModricSubstituted forKroosat 83'minutes
- 12CamavingaBooked at 45minsSubstituted forCeballosat 89'minutes
- 21DíazSubstituted forTchouaméniat 83'minutes
- 11RodrygoSubstituted forJoseluat 74'minutes
- 7Vinícius JúniorBooked at 55minsSubstituted forGülerat 89'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Carvajal
- 8Kroos
- 14Joselu
- 18Tchouaméni
- 19Ceballos
- 20García
- 24Güler
- 25Arrizabalaga Revuelta
- 26Piñeiro
Celta Vigo
Formation 5-3-2
- 25Guaita
- 3MinguezaBooked at 55minsSubstituted forSoteloat 77'minutes
- 22ManquilloBooked at 82mins
- 2Starfelt
- 4Núñez
- 23SánchezSubstituted forCerviat 60'minutes
- 14de la TorreBooked at 25mins
- 8BeltránSubstituted forDomínguezat 77'minutes
- 17BambaSubstituted forAllendeat 60'minutes
- 10Iago Aspas
- 18Strand LarsenSubstituted forDouvikasat 83'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Pérez
- 9Allende
- 11Cervi
- 12Douvikas
- 13Villar
- 16Marques Siqueira
- 20Vázquez
- 24Rodríguez
- 26Carrillo
- 28Domínguez
- 30Sotelo
- 32Rodríguez
- Referee:
- Mario Melero López
- Attendance:
- 73,644
Match Stats
Home TeamReal MadridAway TeamCelta Vigo
- Possession
- Home63%
- Away37%
- Shots
- Home25
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home13
- Away1
- Corners
- Home12
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home8
- Away13
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Real Madrid 4, Celta Vigo 0.
Goal!
Goal! Real Madrid 4, Celta Vigo 0. Arda Güler (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Dani Ceballos with a through ball.
Post update
Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Iago Aspas (Celta Vigo).
Post update
Dani Ceballos (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Hugo Sotelo (Celta Vigo).
Post update
Attempt blocked. Tasos Douvikas (Celta Vigo) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Iago Aspas.
Substitution
Substitution, Real Madrid. Dani Ceballos replaces Eduardo Camavinga.
Substitution
Substitution, Real Madrid. Arda Güler replaces Vinícius Júnior.
Goal!
Own Goal by Carlos Domínguez, Celta Vigo. Real Madrid 3, Celta Vigo 0.
Post update
Attempt missed. Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Federico Valverde following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Vicente Guaita.
Post update
Attempt saved. Joselu (Real Madrid) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Lucas Vázquez with a through ball.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Iago Aspas (Celta Vigo) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Luca de la Torre.
Substitution
Substitution, Celta Vigo. Tasos Douvikas replaces Jørgen Strand Larsen.
Substitution
Substitution, Real Madrid. Toni Kroos replaces Luka Modric.
Substitution
Substitution, Real Madrid. Aurélien Tchouaméni replaces Brahim Díaz.
Booking
Javier Manquillo (Celta Vigo) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Luka Modric (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the left wing.