Real Madrid latest news roundup: Celta, injuries, suspensions - and a club milestone

On this day in Real Madrid history…

One hundred and twenty-four years ago today, Real Madrid Club de Fútbol was precisely one sleep away from officially coming into being. Founded on March 6, 1902, the Spanish giants were initially known as Madrid Foot-ball Club - until June 1920, when Spanish King Alfonso XIII granted Los Blancos the right to add “Real” - which translates as “royal” - to their name.

In the century and (almost) a quarter since then, Madrid have hoovered up silverware with staggering insatiability. The club boasts a record 36 domestic titles, while its haul of 15 European Cup/Champions League wins is also unmatched (Madrid’s closest challenger is AC Milan, with a comparatively measly seven). Madrid’s bumper trophy cabinet is also home to, among other assorted gongs: two UEFA Cups, 20 Copas del Rey, five Club World Cups and six UEFA Super Cups.

But will Los Blancos draw a blank in 2025/26?

This term, as things stand, Madrid’s hopes of adding to their extensive trophy collection hang very much in the balance. Beaten by Barcelona in January’s Spanish Super Cup final - in Xabi Alonso’s final game as head coach - Madrid were then sent skidding out of the Copa del Rey by second-tier Albacete. That leaves LaLiga or the Champions League - both competitions which, as we’ve established, Madrid have historically proved fairly adept at winning.

In the Spanish league, however, Madrid’s eight-game winning run has come to a grinding halt, courtesy of consecutive defeats to Osasuna and Getafe. Before losing in Pamplona two weeks ago, Álvaro Arbeloa’s men were two points clear of defending champions Barça; now, they trail the Catalans by four, with 12 games to play.

At present, Madrid are rated by the bookmakers at +230 to win LaLiga, with Barça valued at -290. The Champions League odds, meanwhile, place the 15-time kings of Europe as mere seventh favorites for victory in May’s Budapest final. What’s more, the outlook provided by the statisticians is even less auspicious for Madrid, who are currently ninth in the race for the continental title, per Opta’s ‘supercomputer’.

In Madrid’s upcoming Champions League last-16 clash with Manchester City, Opta is firmly backing the Premier League team to prevail. Pep Guardiola’s men, who were knocked out of Europe’s elite tournament by Los Blancos in 2024/25, have a 64.3% chance of progressing to the quarterfinals, according to the stats specialists.

Who’s up next for Real Madrid?

Before hosting Manchester City in the last-16 first leg next Wednesday, Madrid begin their bid to claw back Barça’s LaLiga lead this Friday, when Arbeloa takes his team to Galicia to face Celta Vigo.

The men from the capital have won on their last seven league visits to Balaídos, and have lost just once in their last 20 meetings with Celta in all competitions. But: that singular defeat came earlier this season at the Bernabéu, where Claudio Giráldez’s team won 2-0 and, quite frankly, gave Madrid bottoms a thorough spanking.

Moreover, this is a Celta side that’s on a run of four straight wins in all competitions, and is on pace for its highest LaLiga finish in a decade. After a 2-1 victory at Girona on Sunday, Os Celestes sit sixth in the Spanish top flight.

Madrid’s myriad injury issues

Madrid not only find themselves on a two-game losing sequence in LaLiga: they also travel to northwestern Spain with a mounting list of injures and suspensions.

Dogged by a persistent knee problem, star striker Kylian Mbappé missed the Getafe defeat and last Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Benfica. The Frenchman will again play no part in Vigo, as Madrid race to get him fit to face City.

Midfielder Dani Ceballos, and attackers Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo Goes, are also out injured. So, too, are center backs Éder Militao and David Alaba, who are joined on the sidelines by fellow defenders Dean Huijsen and Álvaro Carreras. Both are suspended, along with forward Franco Mastantuono. To top off Arbeloa’s selection headache in defense, Raúl Asencio remains a doubt for Friday’s game, as he recovers from a neck sprain suffered against Benfica.

And Asencio is joined in the touch-and-go column by midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, who sat out the Getafe reverse with dental problems. AS USA’s Will Gittins explains:

Madrid to place faith in Fati?

Amid a raft of absences in defense, Arbeloa’s squad to face Celta is expected to include ‘B’ team center back Lamini Fati - a 19-year-old prospect described within the club’s youth setup as a “rock at the back” and a “physical marvel”. A $115,000 signing from Leganés in late 2024, Fati has never previously been drafted into the first-team matchday roster.

Celta Vigo vs Real Madrid: kickoff times, how to watch in the U.S.

On matchday 27 of the LaLiga season, Real Madrid visit Celta Vigo tomorrow, Friday March 6, with kickoff at Balaídos scheduled for 3:00 p.m. ET/12 noon PT. Viewers in the U.S. can watch the game on ESPN Select, ESPN Deportes and the ESPN app. Your streaming options also include fubo, which offers new users a free, introductory trial.

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.