Mbappe keeps Real Madrid Liga dream in Celta thriller

Kylian Mbappe struck twice as Real Madrid held back Celta Vigo with a thrilling 3-2 win to remain within sight of La Liga leaders Barcelona.After the Catalans scraped a resurgence win at Valladolid on Saturday, Madrid endured a late Celta fightback to keep the four-point gap ahead of next Sunday’s Clasico.Advertisement Defending champions Madrid, second, took a three-goal lead however were left sticking on at the Santiago Bernabeu against a Celta side seventh and wanting to qualify for European football next season. “The game appeared completed … you need to remember we’re without 6 defenders and we’re not constantly capable of solving these things,”stated Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti.”Yes it might have been dealt with much better, we suffered a bit, but it’s a nice success.”Madrid’s Champions League defence crumbled and Los Blancos were also beaten in the Copa del Rey final versus Barcelona recently,

however Los Blancos are still confident of revamping Hansi Flick’s side in La Liga.Advertisement “We had a very good first half(however)… we fell apart, these things can’t take place, it’s occurred to us a lot,” admitted Genuine Madrid midfielder Fede Valverde on the club’s tv channel.”We left a lot minutes for them to get comfortable and they are a terrific group and they put us in a tough spot.” Ancelotti’s side entered the game with a spate of defensive injuries but after riding out an early wave of Celta possibilities took control, with Turkish 20-year-old Arda Guler pulling the strings.With Rodrygo Goes out with illness the

youngster started in his stead and took complete advantage.Advertisement Guler directed a magnificent overhead effort large of objective in the opening phases, showing his ambition has no limits.Former Barcelona defender Marcos Alonso headed simply over and then forced a great conserve from Thibaut Courtois, as Celta threatened.Aurelien Tchouameni headed over when well-placed at the other end, as Madrid stifled the visitors.-‘Last possibility’-Madrid opened the scoring through Guler after 33 minutes, when the playmaker cleverly worked some area in package and then brilliantly curled a strike past the reach of Vicente Guaita.Mbappe doubled Madrid’s lead after 39 minutes at the sharp end of a fast breakaway.Advertisement Courtois saved well from Borja Iglesias and right away Madrid thrust forward, with Bellingham setting Mbappe complimentary down the right.The French superstar ruthlessly lashed previous Guaita from simply inside the area.Just three minutes into the second half, Mbappe struck once again for his 24th league objective of the season, putting him one behind the leading scorer, Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski.Guler was the creator, playing in the striker with a perfectly-weighted ball and Mbappe finished low with a stroke of his left boot.It seemed the game was won for Madrid but Javier Rodriguez pulled Celta back into it with a surface from close range after a corner was incorrectly awarded to Celta.Advertisement Lucas Vazquez obstructed Pablo Duran

‘s backheeled effort on the line however Rodriguez was on hand to pounce.Iago Aspas’intro off the bench for the Galicians immediately provided more assaulting incentive and he produced an excellent pass for Williot Swedberg to slot a 2nd past Courtois.The Belgian goalkeeper had his heart in his mouth a few minutes

later as Duran’s shot slipped out of his hands and could have squirmed throughout the line behind him if it had actually not slowed to a stop on the

grass.If Madrid had actually dropped points it would have enabled Barcelona to lift the title next weekend with a Clasico victory.”It’s the game of the year for us, the last possibility for us to win La Liga,”said Valverde.

“We will attempt our best to take the three points.”rbs/bsp/pb