Kylian Mbappe and Arda Guler both scored stunners as Real Madrid claimed a 3-2 win over Celta Vigo.
Defending champions Real’s fourth win in a row kept their title dream alive with four matches to go in the Spanish top flight.
Carlo Ancelotti’s men broke the deadlock shortly after the half-hour mark when Guler took a short corner for a one-two with Lucas Vazquez before dispatching an excellent left-footed shot from a tight angle through a gap between defenders.
Mbappe doubled Real’s lead six minutes later as Jude Bellingham’s lobbed ball unleashed the Frenchman, who ran down the opposition half and fired a right-footed shot from the edge of the box into the net.
Guler’s through ball set up Mbappe’s second goal three minutes into the second half, the 26-year-old finding the bottom-right corner to score his 24th league goal of the season.
But Celta Vigo, who lost only two of their previous 11 league games and nearly scored early on with two Marcos Alonso chances, were unwilling to give up.
Kylian Mbappe and Ara Guler scored stunners as Real Madrid claimed a win over Celta Vigo
Guler dispatched an excellent left-footed shot from a tight angle through a gap between defenders
Mbappe fired a right-footed shot from the edge of the box into the net
The visitors began a fightback with their first goal 69 minutes in, Javi Rodriguez punishing the Real defence for failing to clear Sotelo’s attempt off a corner with a close-range finish.
Williot Swedberg scored Celta Vigo’s second goal seven minutes later as Iago Aspas found him in the box with a precise through ball.
Under pressure, Real did well to see off the final minutes as Courtois made crucial saves to deny Pablo Duran and Aspas to protect the hosts’ lead.
Real remain four points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona ahead of next week’s El Clasico.
“The most important thing was the win. We played a good first half, but then we fell apart… they are a great team and they put us in trouble,” midfielder Federico Valverde told Real Madrid TV.
“Now, let’s get ready for next Sunday,” Courtois added, referring to the upcoming Barcelona game.
