Celta de Vigo 1-2 Real Madrid Player Ratings: Valverde's Late Strike Saves The Day For Los Blancos

Real Madrid edged past Celta de Vigo with a hard-fought 2-1 victory at the Estadio de Balaídos in what turned out to be a tense La Liga encounter. The visitors started the match with strong intent and looked comfortable in possession during the early stages, while Celta tried to stay compact and wait for opportunities on the counter.

Los Blancos found the breakthrough early in the game when Aurélien Tchouaméni rose to the occasion and put his side ahead, giving the visitors the perfect start. It seemed as though Real Madrid might take control of the contest from that point.

However, Celta de Vigo showed great resilience and refused to back down. Their persistence paid off when Borja Iglesias found the equaliser, igniting the home crowd and shifting the momentum of the game. The second half turned into a tight battle, with both teams pushing hard and the goalkeepers making crucial interventions to keep their sides in the contest.

Just when the match looked destined to end in a draw, one of the best Uruguayan players, Federico Valverde, produced the decisive moment, scoring the winner for Real Madrid and breaking Celta hearts. Despite a spirited performance from the hosts, Los Blancos ultimately relied on moments of quality to secure an important three points.

Check out the Celta de Vigo vs Real Madrid Player Ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Real Madrid started strongly and took an early lead through Aurélien Tchouaméni, setting the tone and allowing the visitors to dictate possession in the opening stages.
• Celta de Vigo showed resilience and were rewarded when Borja Iglesias scored the equaliser, turning the match into a tight and competitive battle.
• With the game heading toward a draw, Federico Valverde stepped up with the winning goal, highlighting the individual quality that helped Real Madrid secure all three points.

Celta de Vigo Player Ratings vs Real Madrid

Let's delve into the Celta de Vigo player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Ionuț Radu - 6.0: He couldn't do much about either of the goals he conceded. Made a good save to deny Vinicius Junior in the second half. His distribution was a bit shaky, with only one of his five long balls finding a teammate. A standard performance, nothing spectacular but no glaring errors either.

Defenders

Carl Starfelt - 7.5: A rock at the back for Celta. He was a commanding presence, winning all his duels and making a whopping seven clearances. His passing was near-perfect at 98% accuracy. From our perspective, he was one of Celta's best players on the pitch, showing real leadership as captain.

Marcos Alonso - 6.5: A mixed bag from the veteran defender. He was comfortable on the ball and made some important clearances and tackles. However, he didn't offer much going forward and looked a step off the pace at times. A solid, if unspectacular, outing.

Javi Rodríguez - 7.0: A really active performance. He made five clearances, two interceptions, and was constantly trying to start attacks from the back. He won most of his duels and even got forward for a late header that went just over. Lost the ball a few times but his positive intent was clear.

Midfielders

Óscar Mingueza - 6.5: Worked hard and showed some nice touches in midfield before being substituted. He contributed defensively with a few recoveries and tackles. Didn't have a massive impact on the game creatively, but he put in a good shift for the team.

Sergio Carreira - 7.0: Another player who had a very busy evening. He provided two key passes and was a threat with his crossing. He recovered the ball five times, showing his defensive work rate. A little sloppy in possession at times, but his energy was a big plus for Celta.

Ilaix Moriba - 6.0: A quiet game from Moriba. His passing was very accurate, but it was mostly safe and sideways. He got stuck in and won a few duels but an error leading to a shot blotted his copybook. We expected to see a bit more drive and creativity from him.

Miguel Román - 6.5: He was tidy on the ball and created a great chance with a pinpoint cross in the second half. However, he struggled defensively, being dribbled past four times. A decent performance in possession but looked vulnerable without it.

Forwards

Borja Iglesias - 7.0: He got his goal, and it was a well-taken one. He was a real handful for the Madrid defence, taking three shots. On the downside, he picked up a yellow card, was very wasteful in possession, and seemed to lose his cool at times. His goal bumps his rating up.

Ferran Jutglà - 7.0: A lively and intelligent performance. He was a constant nuisance, winning almost all of his duels and linking up play effectively. Had a couple of shots and worked tirelessly for the team before being subbed off. A shame he couldn't find the net.

Williot Swedberg - 7.5: Provided a lovely assist and was Celta's main creative spark in the first half. He created two chances and always looked to make things happen. Faded a bit as the game went on, but his contribution was vital. A very promising performance.

Substitutes

Iago Aspas - 6.5: Came on and almost became the hero, striking the post with a well-hit shot. Showed his class in a brief cameo.

Fer López - N/A: Not on long enough to make a significant impact.

Jones El Abdellaoui - N/A: Came on but had little time to influence the game.

Hugo Álvarez - N/A: A late substitute with few involvements.

Matías Vecino - N/A: Brought on in stoppage time.

Manager

C. Giráldez González - 6.5: His team was well-organized and fought with real heart. They gave Madrid a proper scare and were unlucky to come away with nothing. The tactics were spot on for large parts of the game. Perhaps could have been a bit more adventurous with his changes earlier.

Real Madrid Player Ratings vs Celta de Vigo

Here's a look at the Real Madrid player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Thibaut Courtois - 7.0: Made three saves, including a brilliant one to deny Ferran Jutglà. He couldn't be faulted for the goal he conceded. Commanded his area well and his presence brings so much confidence to the backline. A reliable performance from the big Belgian.

Defenders

Trent Alexander-Arnold - 7.0: A typical TAA performance. He was a huge creative outlet, creating three chances, but he also lost possession 24 times which is far too many. His defensive work was okay, but his value is always in what he does going forward. He was a constant threat with his delivery.

Raúl Asencio - 6.0: It was a difficult night for the defender. He struggled against Celta's lively forwards, getting dribbled past twice and picking up a yellow card. He was tidy in possession but looked defensively vulnerable. Not his best game.

Antonio Rüdiger - 7.0: He was a monster in defence. Made 11 ball recoveries and was physically dominant. His distribution, especially his long balls, helped launch attacks. A couple of fouls aside, he was the composed, aggressive leader Madrid needed at the back.

Ferland Mendy - 6.5: Solid and dependable as ever. He was defensively sound, winning his duels and making a last-man tackle. Didn't offer a huge amount going forward but he did his primary job well. You know what you're getting with Mendy, and it's defensive stability.

Midfielders

Federico Valverde - 8.0: A captain's performance. He scored the crucial winning goal and was a bundle of energy all over the pitch. He took 110 touches, showing how involved he was in every phase of play. A tireless and match-winning display.

Aurélien Tchouaméni - 8.5: What stood out to us was his complete dominance in midfield. He scored the opening goal, made seven recoveries, and won almost every tackle and duel. He was absolutely everywhere, breaking up play and starting attacks. A truly world-class performance and our man of the match.

Arda Güler - 7.5: Showed flashes of his immense talent. He grabbed an assist for the first goal and created another big chance. He looked sharp and creative before being substituted. A very exciting player who made a real impact on the game.

Thiago Pitarch - 5.5: A tough evening for the midfielder. He struggled to get into the game, was dribbled past four times, and made an error that led to a shot. He worked hard but it just wasn't his night. Seemed a little off the pace of the game.

Forwards

Vinicius Junior - 7.5: A constant menace. He was unlucky not to score, hitting the woodwork early on. He completed three successful dribbles and was always looking to take on his man. He created a couple of chances and his directness caused Celta problems all night.

Brahim Díaz - 6.5: He had some neat touches and his passing was accurate. However, he struggled to make a decisive impact in the final third. He worked hard but was often on the periphery of the action before being subbed off. A decent, but quiet, performance.

Substitutes

César Palacios - N/A: Came on for Güler but didn't have the same creative impact.

Gonzalo García - N/A: Replaced Brahim but had little time to shine.

Manuel Ángel - N/A: A late sub to see out the game.

Manager

Á. Arbeloa Coca - 7.0: His team got the three points, which is the most important thing. The early goal suggested a comfortable night, but his side had to dig deep. He made the changes needed to see out the win. It wasn't a vintage performance, but it was an effective one.

Man of the Match

Aurélien Tchouaméni was the man of the match for his dominant midfield performance and goal.

Worst Performer

Thiago Pitarch had a difficult game and was arguably the worst performer in the match.