Real Madrid Vs Celta

Real Madrid will be eager to put their disappointing Spanish Super Cup performance behind them as they prepare to host Celta Vigo in the Copa del Rey on Thursday at the Santiago Bernabeu. Los Blancos have endured a busy start to the year, having already played several matches, while Celta, by contrast, have been less active, only featuring in a handful of encounters thus far. Real Madrid will be looking to build on their dominant win in the Copa del Rey third round, where they comfortably triumphed 5-0 over Deportivo Minera, while Celta's passage to the same stage was a bit more dramatic, as they mounted a comeback to defeat Racing Santander 3-2.

With the calendar year freshly underway, Real Madrid have faced a packed schedule. The team's first month of 2025 included four competitive fixtures, in stark contrast to the two matches Celta Vigo have played this month. Real Madrid started the year with a narrow 2-1 win over Valencia in La Liga, followed by a dominant 5-0 win over Minera in the Copa del Rey, easing through to the next stage. The following week, the team traveled to Saudi Arabia with the aim of defending their Spanish Super Cup title, which they had claimed in 2024. They first triumphed over Mallorca 3-0 to secure their place in the final, but the final itself turned out to be a bitter disappointment for the Spanish giants.

Despite taking an early lead in the final, with Kylian Mbappe scoring the opening goal against Barcelona, the match quickly turned sour for Real Madrid. The team collapsed in the first half, conceding four goals and eventually suffering a 5-2 defeat, a result that will haunt them for some time. The loss represented Real Madrid's second heavy El Clasico defeat in just three months, following a humiliating 4-0 loss to Barcelona in October during a La Liga home clash at the Bernabeu. This latest setback in Saudi Arabia only compounded the disappointment, leaving the players, the coaching staff, and fans alike frustrated and looking for a quick recovery.

The defeat to Barcelona not only cost Real Madrid the Spanish Super Cup but also served as a reminder of the challenges they have faced against their fiercest rivals in recent months. Their recent form in the competition was a blow to their aspirations, and with the pressure mounting, they are now fully focused on ensuring they do not suffer another slip-up in their Copa del Rey campaign. The team will be hoping to go all the way and lift the prestigious trophy for the 21st time in their history, a target that has become even more pressing after their failed attempt to secure silverware in Saudi Arabia. Their next challenge is a Copa del Rey clash against Celta Vigo, and with their recent home form at the Santiago Bernabeu showing no signs of slowing down, Real Madrid will be confident heading into the game.

Los Blancos have been formidable at home in recent weeks, winning their last five competitive fixtures at the Bernabeu by a combined scoreline of 16-2. Their dominant home performances have made them a tough proposition for visiting sides, and they will be looking to continue that run as they entertain Celta Vigo. Additionally, Real Madrid’s recent record against Celta is nothing short of impressive. They have won their last nine meetings with the Galician side, including a hard-fought 2-1 victory at Balaidos earlier this season. This solid head-to-head record should give them further confidence as they prepare for the Copa del Rey encounter, even though they know the competition can often throw up surprises.

Celta Vigo, on the other hand, have not had the same level of success in recent matches, but they are a team capable of surprises. While Real Madrid entered the Copa del Rey in the third round, Celta Vigo have already played three matches in the competition to earn their place in this clash. They enjoyed a dominant start to their Copa del Rey campaign, scoring 12 goals in their first two matches to comfortably dispatch UD San Pedro and Salamanca UDS. However, their most recent outing in the competition was a far tougher affair. Celta Vigo found themselves 2-1 down to 10-man Racing Santander in the final stages of their match, but the Galician side produced a dramatic turnaround, pulling level thanks to an 86th-minute own goal before Alfon Gonzalez scored in stoppage time to seal a 3-2 victory.

While Celta will take confidence from their resilience in that Copa del Rey tie, they will also be disappointed with their recent league form. On Friday, they faced Rayo Vallecano in La Liga but suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat at Vallecas. The loss left them in 12th position in the league, further demonstrating the inconsistency that has plagued their season thus far. Despite this setback, Celta will now focus their efforts on the upcoming Copa del Rey match, knowing that they will need to perform at their best if they are to cause an upset and keep their dreams of winning the trophy alive. With this being their best chance for silverware this season, Celta Vigo will approach the match with a determined mindset.

The visitors will draw inspiration from their memorable Copa del Rey campaign from the previous season, when they managed to knock out Valencia with a 3-1 win away from home in the round of 16. That victory secured them a place in the quarter-finals, and they will be hoping to replicate that success on Thursday against one of Spain's biggest clubs. However, Celta's recent record against Real Madrid will give them reason for concern. They have not defeated Los Blancos in their last 11 attempts, with their last victory over Real Madrid coming in January 2017. Interestingly, that win came in the Copa del Rey, as Celta Vigo secured a 4-2 aggregate victory to progress to the next round. Despite their historical struggles against Real Madrid, Celta will hope that a new generation of players can defy the odds and create another shock result in the competition.

As the two sides prepare for Thursday's encounter, Real Madrid's focus will be on recovering from their Super Cup disappointment and getting back on track in the Copa del Rey. Their recent home form and dominant record against Celta Vigo make them the clear favorites going into the match. However, Celta Vigo's cup pedigree, combined with their desire to make a deep run in the competition, could make them a dangerous opponent. It promises to be an exciting and unpredictable encounter at the Santiago Bernabeu, where Real Madrid will be aiming to return to winning ways and avoid further setbacks, while Celta will be hoping for an upset that could propel them to new heights in the Copa del Rey.