Real Madrid’s 12 days in search of light

Real Madrid’s prestige and its sporting and financial stakes will be decided in just 12 days. Celta (tonight), Manchester City (March 11 and 17), and Elche (March 14). Four finals that will determine whether the legendary club delivers its worst season in 30 years – recalling the campaign that ended with Arsenio Iglesias on the bench and the team outside Europe – or whether it finds light through a proud, heroic response. To do that, it must correct its crooked lines in La Liga (two straight defeats against Osasuna and Getafe) and overcome this Claudio Giráldez-led Celta side, which smells of festive “Rianxeira” and dreams of returning to Europe, where Lyon and the rising Endrick now await.

That Álvaro Arbeloa’s squad arrives tonight at Balaídos with nine absences – Éder Militão, Dean Huijsen, David Alaba, Miguel Carreras, Dani Ceballos, Jude Bellingham, Franco Mastantuono, Rodrygo and Kylian Mbappé – is no excuse to accept defeat in advance, a result that would hand Barcelona the title race on a silver platter. Arbeloa made it clear yesterday: “As long as we can mathematically fight for the league, we will.”

Viking pride

In moments of footballing and emotional uncertainty, it helps to rely on players with character who refuse to surrender even in the middle of a hurricane. That is why Raúl Asencio has pushed aside his pain – he has been dealing with a cervical sprain for 10 days – to report for duty in the final in Vigo. There is little alternative given the absences of Militão, Huijsen and Alaba. The academy graduate and Antonio Rüdiger will form a combative pairing tasked with using their physical strength and personality to contain Borja Iglesias and Williot Swedberg.

This unpredictable and erratic Madrid side is often criticized for lacking leaders on the field. Captain Dani Carvajal could be one of them, but his surgically repaired knee means he appears and disappears from the lineup like the Guadiana River. Aurélien Tchouaméni has improved significantly, though he is not the field general that Casemiro once was. Federico Valverde is another lifeline thanks to his fierce Uruguayan pride, yet when he looks toward Arda Güler he sees as much talent as a lack of grit in the heat of battle. At least Gonzalo fights with anyone up front to open space for Vinícius Júnior, who never shrinks and never hides.

But when the conversation revolves so heavily around character and pride, it is because discussing the soccer itself becomes harder when analyzing this Madrid side, which will spend the next 12 days battling to avoid a historic collapse few could have imagined at the start of the season with the methodical Xabi Alonso at the controls of the Viking aircraft.

The man of the moment

Celta are hardly the ideal opponent in these circumstances. The Galician club arrives in excellent form, playing with confidence under Claudio Giráldez, a coach forged in Real Madrid’s Valdebebas academy and armed with a clear tactical playbook that has made him the man of the moment along the banks of the estuary at Balaídos, alongside the eternal Iago Aspas.

Yet there is another detail worth noting. Real Madrid celebrates its 124th anniversary today – March 6, 1902. Over that time one maxim has always fueled the club’s legend: “Never consider Real Madrid beaten.”

The message stands.

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.