Real Madrid regain 7-point lead over Girona in Spanish league after routing Celta Vigo

MADRID: Real Madrid made peace with their fans with a comfortable win over Celta Vigo and reclaimed a seven-point lead at the top of the Spanish league on Sunday.

Vinicius Junior scored his third goal in four games as Madrid eased to a 4-0 victory that followed consecutive draws that included a lackluster performance against Leipzig in the Champions League, which prompted jeers from the home crowd at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

“We improved in attitude and intensity. It wasn’t too hard to do better than we did on Wednesday,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. “We’re happy, focused and motivated because it’s an important stage of the season. At Real Madrid, a draw is the first step toward a crisis.”

Madrid had drawn four of their last seven matches in all competitions. They advanced to the quarterfinals of the Champions League on Wednesday despite a poor performance in a 1-1 draw against Leipzig.

Defender Antonio Rudiger set up two goals on Sunday, and Turkiye international Arda Guler made his scoring debut with Madrid. The hosts got two own-goals.

The victory maintained Madrid’s cushion at the top after second-place Girona beat Osasuna 2-0 on Saturday and third-place Barcelona defeated Mallorca 1-0 on Friday. Barcelona, the defending champions, are eight points behind Madrid with 10 rounds left.

Madrid are unbeaten at the Bernabeu in 18 matches this season, with 15 wins and three draws. Their last home loss was in April 2023 against Villarreal. They are unbeaten in the league in 22 straight matches, since a 3-1 loss at Atletico Madrid.

Celta had only one attempt on target in what was their eighth straight loss to Madrid. Rafa Benitez’s team sit just outside the relegation zone, two points from danger.

“We were playing against the best team in the league and we were in it until the 79th minute,” Benitez said. “Things could have gone differently.”

Vinícius opened the scoring from close range after a firm header by Rudiger in the 21st. Madrid added to the lead with own-goals by goalkeeper Vicente Guaita in the 79th and defender Carlos Dominguez in the 88th. Guaita’s own-goal came after a firm header by Rudiger bounced off the crossbar and the goalkeeper’s back.

The 19-year-old midfielder Guler, who replaced Vinicius in the 89th, scored his first goal for Madrid four minutes into stoppage time.

Vinicius again had a run-in with an opponent, shoving Oscar Mingueza to the ground after the Celta defender held the Brazil forward’s jersey to stop a breakaway. Ancelotti had defended Vinicius during the week, saying he is “poorly treated.”

“The referee’s decision was correct and they both got yellow cards,” Ancelotti said. “Vinicius was a bit frustrated and that’s to be expected.”

Luka Modric, who hasn’t played often as a starter this season, made his 350th appearance for Madrid.

The hosts were without England midfielder Jude Bellingham, who was serving the first of a two-game suspension.

BETIS LOSE

Real Betis missed a chance to move into the European qualification places after losing 3-2 to Villarreal at home.

Sitting in seventh place, Betis have won only one of their last six matches in all competitions.

Villarreal moved to 11th place.

Both teams played with 10 men after a red card was shown to Villarreal’s Alberto Moreno and Betis’ Chimy Ávila in the 70th.

ATHLETIC MOVE UP

Athletic Bilbao moved closer to the Champions League places with a 2-0 win at Las Palmas.

The victory moved the Basque Country club within two points of fourth-place Atletico Madrid, who lost 2-0 at Cadiz on Saturday.

It was Athletic’s first league win following a draw against Barcelona and a loss at Real Betis.

RAYO STRUGGLING

Rayo Vallecano’s winless streak reached 10 matches in all competitions after a 1-0 loss at Alaves.

The setback left Rayo in 16th place, four points from the relegation zone.

Andoni Gorosabel scored a first-half winner for Alaves, who hadn’t won in five consecutive league games.