Real Madrid hammered Celta Vigo 4-0 in a Sunday Spanish La Liga match as Turkish phenom Arda Guler scored his first Real goal in stoppage time.
The Madrid team were without suspended Jude Bellingham, but Brazil star Vinicius Junior and wunderkind Guler were on hand to score for their side in front of their fans at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
Celta Vigo’s goalkeeper Vicente Guaita and defender Carlos Dominguez each scored own goals in the second half to help the Whites bag a large victory.
Türkiye midfielder Guler, who joined Real Madrid from Istanbul club Fenerbahce in July, went one-on-one with the Celta goalkeeper to score his team’s fourth goal and seal the result.
Real Madrid’s Italian head coach Carlo Ancelotti praised him after the match.
“He didn’t play very much, three minutes. I was convinced that he could do something, and he produced a move of great talent. He is a great talent and those of us who watch him every day can see that he’s improved a lot in recent times,” Ancelotti said.
“He works with more intensity and has shown his quality. He’s got a good future here, and nobody here thinks otherwise,” he added.
Guler said he was “thrilled” to score his first Real Madrid goal.
“It was fantastic to score in such a stunning atmosphere. I’m thrilled to have scored my first goal, thanks to everyone who has supported me. I hope there will be many more to come and I will work hard to make it happen,” he said.
La Liga leaders Real Madrid have 69 points in 28 matches to go seven points clear of this season’s surprise package Girona.
Third-place Barcelona have 61 points to chase Girona.
Both Girona and Barcelona won their matches earlier this weekend, so Real Madrid could not afford to make a mistake during Sunday’s home match against Celta, who are near the relegation zone.
The 2023-24 Spanish top-flight division La Liga will end in 10 weeks.