Kylian Mbappe struck twice as Real Madrid held off Celta Vigo with a thrilling 3-2 win to stay within sight of La Liga leaders Barcelona on Sunday.

After the Catalans scraped a comeback win at Valladolid on Saturday, Madrid survived a late Celta fightback to maintain the four-point gap ahead of next Sunday’s Clasico.

Defending champions Madrid, second, took a three-goal lead but were left clinging on at the Santiago Bernabeu against a Celta side seventh and hoping to qualify for European football next season.

“The game seemed finished… you have to remember we’re without six defenders and we’re not always capable of solving these things,” said Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti.

“Yes it could have been dealt with better, we suffered a bit, but it’s a nice victory.”

Madrid’s Champions League defence crumbled and Los Blancos were also beaten in the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona last week, but Los Blancos are still hopeful of overhauling Hansi Flick’s side in La Liga.

“We had a very good first half (but)… we fell apart, these things can’t happen, it’s happened to us a lot,” admitted Real Madrid midfielder Fede Valverde on the club’s television channel.

“We left a lot minutes for them to get comfortable and they are a great team and they put us in a tough spot.”

Ancelotti’s side came into the game with a spate of defensive injuries but after riding out an early wave of Celta chances took control, with Turkish 20-year-old Arda Guler pulling the strings.

With Rodrygo Goes out with illness the youngster started in his stead and took full advantage.

Guler directed a spectacular overhead effort wide of goal in the opening stages, showing his ambition has no limits.

Former Barcelona defender Marcos Alonso headed just over and then forced a fine save from Thibaut Courtois, as Celta threatened.

Aurelien Tchouameni headed over when well-placed at the other end, as Madrid stifled the visitors.

© Agence France-Presse

Photo: Denis Doyle/Getty Images