Celta Vigo vs Real Madrid preview - Ancelotti trying to keep freshness

Posted Saturday, May 10, 2014 by PA

Carlo Ancelotti will have one eye on the UEFA Champions League final when Real Madrid travel to Celta Vigo for the penultimate game of their Primera Division season on Sunday.

Two consecutive draws since their continental heroics at Bayern Munich have left Ancelotti's men in third place, four points behind city rivals and upcoming Champions League opponents Atletico.

To add Ancelotti's problems he has a number of injury concerns - not least the fitness of Cristiano Ronaldo, who went off early in Wednesday night's costly 1-1 draw at struggling Real Valladolid.

Ronaldo is expected to return against Celta but centre-back Pepe is definitely ruled out with a calf injury and club medical staff are racing against time to get him fit for the remainder of the season.

Ancelotti said: "Our mental energy has failed us over the last two games and I can see the team are mentally tired.

"There is nothing wrong with their physical condition.

"It's not easy to recover your mental energy between Champions League semi-finals, and that energy is very important at that stage of the season."

But despite Real's slim chances of reclaiming the domestic title defender Sergio Ramos insists his side will not give in without a fight.

He told realmadrid.com: "We're having a great season. As long as there is a mathematical chance, Real Madrid has to fight.

"It's a shame because with just two matches to go it's nearly impossible."

Real come up against a Celta side who have ended their relegation worries on the back of three straight wins, scoring 10 goals in the process.

But Celta could also be forgiven for feeling far from secure after mounting rumours that coach Luis Enrique is in line to replace Gerardo Martino as the next coach of Barcelona.

Celta have played down the link and captain Borja Oubina believes Luis Enrique will stay with his club.

Oubina told AS: "Last summer we lived through a similar situation with the coach and in the end he stayed with us. Through all the rumours, his commitment has stayed the same."