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Sunday night turned into an absolute horror show for Xabi Alonso and a unexpected celebration for a Bayern Munich loanee. The 44-year-old former Leverkusen manager watched his new Real Madrid squad crumble in a 2-0 home defeat against Celta Vigo, a match that unraveled spectacularly with the hosts receiving three red cards.
The loss marks a deepening slump for Alonso. This is now the fourth time in the last five league games that Los Blancos have dropped points. following frustrating draws against Rayo Vallecano (0-0), Elche (2-2), and Girona (1-1). Although they managed a brief respite with a 3-0 win over Bilbao last Wednesday, this latest defeat is a significant blow. The inconsistency has set off alarm bells in the capital, as Real Madrid now sits four points behind league leaders and arch-rivals FC Barcelona in the Primera División standings.
The Bayern Connection
Much of the damage was inflicted by Bryan Zaragoza, who is currently on loan at Celta Vigo from Bayern Munich. The 24-year-old winger was the architect of Alonso’s misery, setting up the opening goal in the 54th minute. Zaragoza provided the assist for Williot Swedberg, who slotted home to make it 1-0 for the Galicians.
For Zaragoza, whose contract in Munich runs until 2029, the victory at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu represents the undisputed highlight of his loan spell so far. The assist against Real was his fourth across all competitions in 19 appearances. It was a performance that will likely be noted with interest by executives in both Munich and Vigo.
Chaos in Stoppage Time
The match ended in complete disarray for the hosts. While Celta celebrated Swedberg’s second goal in the 93rd minute—which sealed the 2-0 victory—emotions on the Real Madrid side boiled over. The team had already been playing with ten men since the 64th minute after Fran García was ejected with a second yellow card.
Following the final goal, the frustration turned into a confrontation with the officiating crew. In the ensuing tumult, defender Álvaro Carreras and forward Endrick were both shown straight red cards for their protests, leaving Real with a disciplinary disaster to match the scoreline.
Transfer Implications
Zaragoza’s strong showing does more than just hurt Real Madrid’s title chances; it could have lasting impacts on his career. According to reports, Celta Vigo possesses a purchase option for the winger valued at approximately €12 million ($13 million).
Interestingly, the deal contains a specific performance clause. The purchase option reportedly becomes mandatory if the Spanish international plays roughly 70 percent of all possible minutes and Celta Vigo finishes at least 11th in the league table. With performances like Sunday’s, Zaragoza is making a strong case for a permanent stay in Galicia.
