Valverde strikes late to seal crucial Madrid win
Federico Valverde's deflected effort four minutes into stoppage-time earned Real Madrid a hard-fought 2-1 victory at Celta Vigo in LaLiga, ending a run of two successive defeats and keeping it firmly in the title race.
Aurelien Tchouameni's strike put the visitors ahead in the 11th minute, but Borja Iglesias levelled in the 25th after Williot Swedberg broke down the left and crossed low.
With the contest seemingly drifting towards a draw, captain Valverde let fly from well outside the box and saw his thunderous effort take a decisive deflection, wrongfooting the goalkeeper before nestling the ball into the net to keep Real firmly in the title hunt.
Celta began at a fierce tempo and almost caught its depleted visitors cold.
Thibaut Courtois produced a fine one-handed save in the fifth minute to turn Iglesias's drive from the edge of the box away as the hosts targeted a Madrid side missing nine players, including the injured Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo, Eder Militao and Jude Bellingham.
Madrid responded swiftly. Vinicius Junior struck the left post during a counter-attack before Tchouameni broke the deadlock two minutes later.
After Arda Guler worked a short corner, he squared for Tchouameni in the middle, whose first-time effort crept in just inside the left post.
Celta levelled in the 25th minute when Williot Swedberg surged past Trent Alexander-Arnold down the left and delivered a low cross for Iglesias to convert from close range.
Swedberg nearly turned scorer himself before halftime, but Courtois reacted sharply to deny him from inside the box.
Vinicius remained Madrid's main outlet after the break, yet clear chances were scarce. Substitute Iago Aspas came closest for Celta, striking the post in the 88th minute.
Just as a draw loomed – a result that could have proved costly in the title race – Valverde stepped up with a strike that, via a helpful deflection, ensured Madrid kept up the pressure on Barcelona.
Madrid, beaten by Osasuna and Getafe in its previous two outings, moved to 63 points, one behind Barcelona, which faces Athletic club on Sunday (AEDT).
"There's still a long way to go in LaLiga, with many points still up for grabs. Every match will be a battle. Our performance today was very commendable,” Madrid boss Alvaro Arbeloa said.
“Hopefully it will be a victory we remember if we win La Liga. It guides us on the path we want to follow in every match. This is Real Madrid: believing and fighting. Hopefully it will be a turning point.
"We won the game, which is what Real Madrid play for. Which is what we want and the objective we had today.
"There is no better way to celebrate these 124 years of history of the best club in the world, than to do it this way.
"Like Real Madrid does: fighting against everything and everyone.
"In a match to which we came with a lot of difficulties and casualties. I think we have to celebrate it for how it has been.
"We deserved to win, despite everything that happened in the match."
Arbeloa praised Valverde's performance, with the Uruguayan popping up with his crucial goal to score his second of the league campaign.
"All a Real Madrid player should be is Federico Valverde," Arbeola said.
"He has that 'spirit of Juanito'.
"Today the team has been put on his back, again. Very happy for him, he deserves it a lot."
Attention now turns to the UEFA Champions League and the first leg at home to Manchester City, with Arbeloa issuing a rallying cry to the club's supporters ahead of the match at Santiago Bernabeu.
He said: "We need them on Wednesday [Thursday AEDT] and they know it better than anyone.
"We played against one of the great clubs in the world of football. But we are much stronger when they are by our side."
