Real Madrid is set to host Celta Vigo at the Santiago Bernabéu this Sunday in what promises to be a thrilling La Liga encounter. After ending a three-game winless streak in Bilbao, Los Blancos will look to build momentum against a Celta side that has often thrived away from home this season.

Match Details:

• Fixture: Real Madrid vs Celta Vigo
• Competition: La Liga 2025/26
• Date: Sunday, December 7, 2025
• Kickoff Time: 9:00 PM CET (20:00 GMT)
• Venue: Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid, Spain
• Coverage: Full pre-match buildup on Al Jazeera Sport from 17:00 GMT

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Real Madrid Eye Second Consecutive La Liga Victory

Real Madrid’s recent form in La Liga has been mixed. The three-time defending champions secured a morale-boosting 3-0 win at Athletic Bilbao midweek, ending a brief run of poor results. This Sunday, a win would not only improve their confidence but also narrow the gap with league leaders Barcelona to just one point.

Despite being favorites, Los Blancos’ recent struggles have raised questions about the performance of head coach Xabi Alonso and the consistency of their squad. Much of the focus will be on Kylian Mbappe, who has been in sensational form this season.

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Kylian Mbappe: Chasing Cristiano Ronaldo’s Legacy

French superstar Kylian Mbappe has been drawing comparisons to Real Madrid legend Cristiano Ronaldo. After an impressive previous season, Mbappe has netted 55 goals for Real Madrid in 2025 and is just four goals shy of Ronaldo’s record 59-goal calendar-year milestone.

Alonso highlighted Mbappe’s influence, saying:
“Kylian is on his way to making history at Real Madrid like Cristiano did. Not just because of the importance he has in the team, but also because of the ambition he conveys and the number of goals he scores.”

Mbappe’s 2025 Stats at Real Madrid:

• La Liga: 16 goals in 15 matches
• Champions League: 9 goals in 5 games
• Total for Real Madrid: 69 goals in 79 matches

With upcoming fixtures against Manchester City, Alavés, and Sevilla, Mbappe is well-positioned to challenge Ronaldo’s historic tally.

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Real Madrid’s Recent Form and La Liga Performance

The victory over Athletic Bilbao marked Real Madrid’s first league win in four matches, showcasing a solid team performance. However, the club’s record this season shows a drop in consistency: after winning 13 of their first 14 matches, they have claimed only two victories in the last six games, highlighting the importance of Sunday’s clash.

Home Advantage

• Real Madrid has been formidable at the Bernabéu, winning all six home games this season, scoring 14 goals, and conceding just three.

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Celta Vigo: Dangerous on the Road

Celta Vigo has had a mixed La Liga campaign but has often performed well away from home. Their away record this season includes three wins, two draws, and only one defeat, making them a potential threat to Real Madrid despite their mid-table position.

Recent Form

• Celta were unbeaten in an eight-game run with six wins, before suffering three defeats in their last four games.
• Their first La Liga victory of the season came against Osasuna, with a 3-2 scoreline.
• In the Europa League, Celta secured a crucial win against PAOK Salonika.

Key Player

• Borja Iglesias, leading scorer with 8 goals this season, will spearhead Celta’s attack.

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Head-to-Head: Real Madrid vs Celta Vigo

Real Madrid and Celta Vigo have met 58 times across all competitions:

• Real Madrid wins: 39
• Celta Vigo wins: 12
• Unbeaten streak: Real has not lost in the last 19 encounters, winning 16

Last Encounters

• Last La Liga meeting: Real won 3-2 at the Bernabéu in May 2025
• Copa del Rey: Real also triumphed 5-2 in January 2025
• Celta’s last league win against Real: 2014, a 2-0 victory

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Team News: Injuries and Suspensions

Real Madrid Absentees:

• Dani Carvajal, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ferland Mendy (injury)
• Dean Huijsen, David Alaba
• Eduardo Camavinga is a doubt due to an ankle knock

Celta Vigo Absentees/Doubts:

• Joseph Aidoo, Mihailo Ristic (injury)

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Predicted Lineups

Real Madrid:
Courtois; Asencio, Militao, Rudiger, Carreras; Guler, Valverde, Tchouameni, Bellingham; Vinicius, Mbappe

Celta Vigo:
Radu; Alonso, Starfelt, J Rodriguez, Rueda; D Rodriguez, Moriba, Carreira, Zaragoza; Iglesias, Aspas