By Jose Benjamin De Leon Castillo

Celta's Brave Display Not Enough as Modric Orchestrates Real Madrid Win

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Ancelotti's eyebrow-raising 4-4-2 formation saw Tchouaméni drop into a back three alongside Militao and Rüdiger, with Lucas Vázquez and Fran García as wing-backs. This left Bellingham and Camavinga in an unorthodox midfield pairing, while Mbappé and Vinícius spearheaded the attack. The system seemed to confuse the Madrid players, who struggled to find their rhythm. 
 
Celta, fearless under Giráldez, lined up in a 4-2-3-1. This formation allowed them to press high and create the first clear chance, with Swedberg denied by a superb save from Courtois. 
 
Despite their early dominance, Celta found themselves behind, against the run of play. A misplaced pass from Fran Beltrán was seized upon by Mbappé, who unleashed an unstoppable shot from 30 yards that flew past Guaita. It was a moment of individual brilliance that punished Celta's bravery. 1-0. 
 
Ancelotti's tactical experiment continued to backfire. Bellingham, deployed in an unfamiliar right-sided role, looked lost and frustrated. The midfield lacked cohesion, and Madrid's attacking play was limited to sporadic bursts from Vinicius and Mbappé. 
 
The second half began with a scare for Madrid. Bellingham, eager to make amends for his first-half struggles, forced a good save from Guaita. However, it was Celta who struck next. A well-worked move down the right flank culminated in Mingueza delivering a perfect cross for Swedberg, who made no mistake from close range (1-1, 51'). 
 
Ancelotti, sensing the danger, turned to his old guard. Modric and Rodrygo were introduced, and the Croatian's impact was immediate. With his first touch, he played a sublime through ball for Vinícius, who raced clear and finished with finesse. It was a goal that showcased Modric's vision and passing range, qualities that have made him a legend at the Bernabéu. 1-2, Madrid. 
 
Celta refused to surrender: Courtois was forced to pull off a magnificent save to deny Bamba from close range and keep Madrid's lead intact. An increasingly anxious Ancelotti responded by introducing Ferland Mendy for Fran García, hoping to shore up the defence and weather the Celta storm. However, despite the change, Madrid were still overly reliant on moments of individual brilliance from their star players, rather than a cohesive and controlled team performance.