La Liga 2023-24: Real Madrid thrashes Celta Vigo 4-0 to cement top spot

La Liga leader Real Madrid cruised to a 4-0 home win over relegation-threatened Celta Vigo on Sunday to restore its seven-point lead at the top of the table with a dominant display.

Goals from Vinicius Jr and Arda Guler, the 19-year-old’s first for the club, as well own goals from Celta’s Carlos Dominguez and keeper Vicente Guaita sealed the victory for Real.

Real was on top in the first half but was thwarted by some fine saves from Guaita, although he failed to stop the opener when Vinicius fired home from close range in the 21st minute, for his 10th goal of the season.

“I’m very happy, I’m trying to be at my best, it’s a good time of the season with good games and I want to continue like this, hopefully without injuries,” Vinicius said.

“Injuries have cost me a bit this season. I’m trying to help in the best way, changing my game, to be unstoppable, as a winger, as a striker, that way the opponents don’t know how to defend me,” he added.

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Real doubled its lead in the 79th when Antonio Rudiger’s thunderous header from a Luka Modric corner hit the bar and found the net after going in off Guaita’s back.

A Vinicius cross was turned into his own net by defender Dominguez in the 88th minute and late substitute Guler added a fourth in stoppage time.

“Arda (Guler) has a future here. He played just three minutes but I was convinced that he could do something because of his great talent,” Real’s coach Carlo Ancelotti told reporters.

Madrid, with 69 points, is seven points ahead of second-placed Girona, which beat Osasuna 2-0 on Saturday.

Rafa Benitez’s Celta is 17th in the standings with 24 points, just one place above the relegation zone.

“We are still in a position out of relegation, we are upset about the defeat but we are trying to recover already thinking about the other matches,” former Madrid manager Benitez said.