Vinicius Junior’s close-range finish gave Real a half-time lead and own goals from goalkeeper Vicente Guaita and Carlos Dominguez put Carlo Ancelotti’s side, without the suspended Jude Bellingham, in full control.

Turkey midfielder Arda Guler stepped off the bench to score his first goal for the club in stoppage-time as Los Blancos extended their unbeaten league run to 22 matches.

Second-placed Girona had closed the gap to four points by beating Osasuna 2-0 at home, but once Vinicius opened the scoring in the 21st minute after a corner, Madrid dominated the match.

Eduardo Camavinga went close on three occasions to extending Madrid's lead and Rodrygo forced Guaita into a reflex save before the break.

Celta had been limited to blocked shots from Manu Sanchez and Luca de la Torre, but it threatened through Jorgen Strand Larsen’s effort early in the second period.

Guaita saved again from Brahim Diaz and Federico Valverde flashed a shot wide before the Celta keeper denied both Rodrygo and Vinicius.

Madrid was rewarded for its pressure with a second goal in the 79th minute when Antonio Rudiger’s header struck the crossbar and deflected in off Guaita.

Celta substitute Dominguez turned the ball past his own keeper in the closing stages and in the fourth minute of added time Guler, a late replacement for Vinicius, steered home the fourth goal.

The Turkey international burst on to Dani Ceballos’s through-ball, knocked the ball around Guaita and buried his shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the six-yard box.

Madrid returned to winning ways after being held by Valencia and RB Leipzig in its previous two matches to stretch its advantage over Girona and open up an eight-point lead over third-placed Barcelona.