According to reports, no player from the current Celta Vigo squad has ever defeated Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabéu in a La Liga match. This challenge comes amid the backdrop of their Copa del Rey clash earlier this year and their push to secure a top-seven finish. As a result, the motivation for Claudio Giráldez’s squad is at its peak. Additionally, three Celta players could do their former club, Barcelona, a huge favor with their performances.

Marcos Alonso, Óscar Mingueza, and Ilaix Moriba, apart from their excellent form at Celta, all have a history with Barcelona. These three have the chance to disrupt Carlo Ancelotti’s side ahead of El Clásico, potentially handing the La Liga title advantage to their former club, especially with Barcelona currently leading by four points.

Marcos Alonso, a product of Real Madrid’s academy who briefly played for the first team 15 years ago, joined Celta Vigo on a free transfer last summer after two seasons at Barcelona. The 34-year-old Madrid-born defender is now a leader in Celta’s backline and has taken over penalty duties in the absence of Iago Aspas. Earlier this season, in a controversial Copa del Rey match at Bernabéu, he scored a penalty to force extra time.

Óscar Mingueza also has experience scoring against Real Madrid at their home ground. He netted in Barcelona’s 2-1 loss to Real in the 2021 El Clásico at the Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium, which was held without fans due to COVID-19. The La Masia graduate joined Celta on a free transfer in 2022 and, at 25, has established himself as a key player for the Spanish national team with his outstanding performances as a full-back.

Ilaix Moriba, another La Masia product, has revived his career at Celta. The 22-year-old Guinean midfielder left Barcelona for RB Leipzig in 2021 but, after several unsuccessful loan spells, joined Celta last August. His contract with Leipzig runs until 2026, but Celta’s management is eager to secure him permanently this summer. Like Alonso and Mingueza, Moriba’s inclusion in Giráldez’s starting lineup for this crucial match seems almost certain.