'Angry' Real Madrid aim to remove 'bad taste' against Manchester City in UEFA Champions League after Celta Vigo loss

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Nine-man Real Madrid slumped to a 2-0 home defeat to Celta Vigo in La Liga, as they fell four points behind reigning champions Barcelona. Xabi Alonso's men also saw their injury crisis deepen, with Eder Militao forced off with a seemingly serious hamstring issue. It leaves Madrid without six defenders for the UEFA Champions League clash against Manchester City, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

'Bad taste in our mouths' - Alonso bemoans refereeing as Real Madrid lost to Celta Vigo

Video credit: SNTV

Xabi Alonso wants his "angry" Real Madrid team to "remove the bad taste" of a shock 2-0 home defeat to Celta Vigo when they face Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League.

Madrid were booed by fans at the Bernabeu as they dropped points for the fourth time in their last five La Liga matches.

Madrid's morale and form have dipped dramatically ahead of this Wednesday's clash against City - live on TNT Sports and discovery+ - as has Alonso's pool of available players after another injury setback.

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"We're all angry, obviously," said Madrid head coach Alonso. "It wasn't the match or the result we wanted.

"We have to try to move on as quickly as possible. It's only three points, there's still a long way to go in the league.

"On Wednesday, we have a Champions League match against City to react and remove this bad taste from our mouths."

Militao was forced off with a serious-looking hamstring problem in the opening 20 minutes at the Bernabeu, adding to a defensive injury crisis for Alonso.

The Brazilian joins Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen, Dani Carvajal, David Alaba and Ferland Mendy on the sidelines.

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Things went from bad to worse for Los Blancos early in the second half against Celta Vigo, as a deft finish from Williot Swedberg made it 1-0.

Madrid's Fran Garcia then saw red, with a pair of yellow-card challenges in the 63rd and 64th minutes, before Alvaro Carreras added more problems in stoppage time, picking up a second yellow card for dissent on a night of officiating frustration for Madrid.

Earlier in the contest, England superstar Jude Bellingham was left bloodied with a cut near the eye after a stray elbow - only to receive a yellow card afterwards as he returned to the field before the referee deemed fit.

Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid looks on with blood on his face from a cut to his eyebrow during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Madrid CF and RC Celta de Vigo at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on December 07, 2025 in Madrid, Spain.

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In the final knockings, Swedberg sealed the victory with his second goal of the night, coolly taking the ball around Thibaut Courtois before strolling into the net with the ball at his feet.

Reflecting on the loss, manager Alonso said: "From the start, Militao's injury hurt us. It took us a while to recover mentally. Then we made some adjustments, but it wasn't the match we wanted.

"We were unsettled by the referee's decisions. The sending off of Alvaro, then he slowed things down.

"He didn't stop Celta's rhythm or warn them about anything, he was very permissive. I didn't like his performance.

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"The card for Carreras is very debatable, as if he was trying too hard. That's what threw us off a bit in those moments of the match. I didn't like the refereeing today."

Madrid have now fallen four points behind reigning champions Barcelona.

Two defeats in the space of five days for Atletico Madrid has kept another of their arch-rivals at bay, with Los Rojiblancos five points adrift.

Villarreal, though, are now just a point behind Alonso's men with a game in hand.

Madrid turn their attention to the Champions League next, as the 2023/24 winners host 2022/23 champions City. Alonso sees it as a chance to right some wrongs.

He said: "We're in a good position in the competition and that's what's at stake. But we want to perform well, play well and show that we can play better than we did today. We're aware of that.

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"It's an important and exciting match. There's a lot of work going on every day at Valdebebas with the players. That's what we have to focus on."

Alonso added: "Everyone is united, we know that this is football and that the situation can be turned around. There is still a long way to go in the season and a bad game at home can happen.

"It's not what we want, but we have to look ahead. We know what this is all about: self-criticism and high standards. We know that defeats hurt a lot."

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