Kylian Mbappe scored twice as Real Madrid edged Celta Vigo 3-2 to move back within four points of La Liga leaders Barcelona ahead of next weekend’s crucial El Clasico.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side opened the scoring in the 33rd minute when a short corner routine led to Arda Guler curling a deflected shot into the top corner.
Six minutes later, Mbappe doubled Madrid’s lead with a thunderous finish past Vicente Guaita, capping a swift counterattack. The French forward struck again three minutes into the second half, coolly slotting into the bottom corner after latching onto Guler’s incisive through ball.
Celta refused to fold, and Javi Rodriguez pulled one back midway through the second half with a close-range effort following a failed Madrid clearance. The visitors gained further momentum when club legend Iago Aspas delivered a sublime pass to set up substitute Williot Swedberg, who made it 3-2 in the 76th minute.
Just two minutes later, Pablo Duran nearly equalised after another brilliant piece of play by Aspas, but Thibaut Courtois recovered just in time after the initial shot slipped under him.
In a frantic finale, both teams created chances, but Los Blancos held firm to secure a vital three points.
The victory sets up a high-stakes clash next Sunday at Camp Nou, where a fifth straight league win for Madrid could cut the gap to just one point with three games remaining. Celta, meanwhile, stay seventh as their push for European football continues.
