Valverde saves Real Madrid in stoppage time as Celta rage over referee decision
Arbeloa’s side, depleted in the starting lineup but lifted by commitment and academy reinforcements, win with a fortunate Valverde strike deep into stoppage time. Controversial refereeing from Díaz de Mera.
Valverde was the lifeline. In the penultimate minute of stoppage time he appeared on the edge of the box and unleashed a thunderous strike that deflected off Marcos Alonso and kept the title race alive. It was a reward Madrid earned through commitment more than through the quality of their play in a tightly closed game that rarely ventured near either penalty area.
Much of the attacking burden again fell on Vinicius, weighed down by responsibility. It often seems the team thinks it is him or no one. Usually the other ten prove him right. This time the team struggled to find him. Brahim was equally absent. Perhaps they were too spread out in a side without a true No. 9, lacking anyone to finish moves in the box.
It was largely a midfield battle, dominated in particular by Tchouameni, who has added authority to his efficiency. Circumstances have promoted him to something like a field general. Thiago Pitarch was also a bright spot, as were his Castilla teammates Palacios and Manuel Ángel, who helped late on. Referee Díaz de Mera will likely face a long week. He allowed physical contact throughout the game except in one key moment, just before what looked like a clear penalty for Madrid. That sudden shift in criteria will spark debate. Later, Celta complained of a foul on Fer López in the buildup to Madrid’s winner.
The pregame choreography set the tone, even down to the colors. Celta in a near-celestial sky blue, Madrid in a dark navy bordering on black. Celta fielded an upbeat, attack-minded lineup with three natural forwards. Madrid’s selection looked almost apocalyptic: ten absentees, several players short on match fitness and a bench stacked with academy prospects. It did not unfold as expected.
Arbeloa had few options, but two straight league defeats forced him to change something, even at the risk of further instability. Ferland Mendy started at left back despite three muscle injuries this season that had limited him to just 133 minutes across three appearances. Two years ago Carlo Ancelotti called him “the best defensive fullback in the world,” without noting that his legs can be made of glass. In truth, much of Madrid’s defense fits that description.
Up front, Brahim replaced Gonzalo. The Africa Cup of Nations top scorer had not started since returning from the tournament. In fact, he had not been in the lineup since the first-half meeting with Rayo in early November. He is an inconsistent player, the type who needs inspiration to strike, but given the struggles of others he probably deserved better treatment.
Chances for Real Madrid
Madrid’s start mirrored their season: hard to explain. Arbeloa’s team controlled the opening minutes before Celta took over possession without producing much, aside from a low shot by Borja Iglesias that Courtois pushed away.
Then came two furious minutes from Madrid. Vinicius struck the post from a Trent pass, the ball rolling teasingly along the goal line before staying out. Tchouameni then unleashed a powerful effort deflected by the Celta defense. From the corner that followed came the opening goal, a rehearsed routine that caught Celta completely off guard. Trent played it short to Arda Güler, left unmarked, and the Turk delivered a low cross that Tchouameni finished first time. This time the ball kissed the post and went in. The French midfielder’s form runs opposite to the team’s: at his peak in a Madrid side far from it. Arbeloa may have discovered an unexpected leader.
At that stage Madrid were playing well, pressing aggressively, recovering possession quickly and stringing together patient attacks. Celta, who arrived riding a four-game winning streak, were forced into a reactive role without the ball. But matches are decided by goals, not momentum, and Giráldez’s side found an equalizer without doing much to justify it.
Williot, a recurring nightmare for Madrid, fought for a ball on the right. Trent defended poorly, losing both the duel and the physical battle, and then failed to close down the Swede, who squared for Borja Iglesias to score. Shared responsibility on the goal and another warning sign for the Englishman: a good winger, but a shaky fullback. The match remained difficult to read. Madrid regained control, yet Courtois had to make a point-blank save from Williot to prevent Celta from taking the lead before halftime.
The little shove that provoked controversy
Chances were scarce. Celta struggled because Madrid quickly recovered possession. Arbeloa’s side, meanwhile, found the middle and the flanks clogged, with Vinicius triple-marked and no presence in the penalty area. It became an even tighter contest than expected, full of creative players unable to create. No one seemed capable of cracking it open.
Arbeloa tried to shake things up by leaning further on youth, bringing on Palacios for Güler. The Turk’s surprised expression hinted at a visible but silent complaint. The youngster entered well. Startfelt cleared a shot off the line after a good combination between Palacios and Vinicius.
Giráldez responded by replacing his attacking trio, who had run out of energy. Seconds later Díaz de Mera was called to the monitor for a clear handball by Jutglá as he attempted to clear a corner. After reviewing the play he spotted a small push by Palacios beforehand, one of many similar contacts that had gone unpunished earlier. At most a minor foul, but the type of decision that invites debate.
Late on came Iago Aspas, still capable of flashes of his old brilliance. He struck the post, the same one that looked like it would leave Madrid with a draw that would have felt like a defeat. But while they were still lamenting it, Arbeloa’s academy-heavy side surged forward once more. Valverde fired the cannon and fortune did the rest. Heroism, which has delivered so many trophies for Madrid, is still alive.
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- 13 Radu
- 20 Marcos Alonso
- 2 Carl Starfelt
- 32 Javi Rodríguez
- 3 Óscar Mingueza (82')
- 6 Moriba Kourouma (90')
- 5 Sergio Carreira
- 16 Miguel Román
- 9 Jutglà (69')
- 19 Williot Swedberg (69')
- 7 Borja Iglesias (69')
- Substitutes
- 15 Matias Vecino (90') SC
- 8 Fer López (69')
- 24 Carlos Domínguez
- 23 Hugo Álvarez (69')
- 12 Manu Fernández
- 17 Javi Rueda
- 4 Joseph Aidoo
- 1 Iván Villar
- 14 Alvaro Nunez
- 10 Aspas (82')
- 22 Hugo Sotelo
- 39 Jones El Abdellaoui (69')
- 1 Courtois
- 23 Ferland Mendy
- 22 Rüdiger
- 17 Asencio
- 12 Trent Alexander-Arnold -
- 8 Valverde
- 15 Güler (64')
- 14 Tchouameni
- 45 Thiago (89')
- 21 Brahim (76')
- 7 Vinicius Junior
- Substitutes
- 43 Mestre
- 13 Lunin
- 2 Carvajal
- 38 Palacios (64')
- 37 Manuel Ángel (89')
- 16 Gonzalo (76')
- 20 Fran Garcia
- 27 Aguado
- 28 Cestero
Substitutions
César Palacios (64', Arda Güler), Hugo Álvarez (69', Ferran Jutglà), Jones El Abdellaoui (69', Borja Iglesias), Fer López (69', Williot Swedberg), Gonzalo García (76', Brahim Díaz), Iago Aspas (82', Óscar Mingueza), Manuel Ángel (89', Thiago Pitarch), Matías Vecino (90', Ilaix Moriba)
Goals
0-1, 10': Tchouameni, 1-1, 24': Borja Iglesias, 1-2, 93': Valverde
Cards
Referee: Isidro Díaz de Mera Escuderos
VAR Referee: Juan Luis Pulido Santana, Rubén Ávalos Barrera
Borja Iglesias (30',Yellow), Tchouameni (85',Yellow), Asencio (89',Yellow)
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