Real Madrid head coach Alvaro Arbeloa defended the performance of his side as Federico Valverde's injury-time winner gave them a 2-1 win at Celta Vigo and kept their LaLiga titles hopes alive.

Arebloa's men started well, with Vinicius Junior striking the post inside the first 10 minutes, before they scored the opener through Aurelien Tchouameni after Arda Guler had set him up with his eighth assist of the season.

However, Celta Vigo equalised through Borja Iglesias and continued to cause problems for the Madrid defence, with Iago Aspas striking the post in the 87th minute.

Valverde's deflected effort handed Madrid the win and put them just a point behind Barcelona in the table, having played a game more.

Madrid generated less xG (0.87) than their opponents (1.05) and could muster just three shots on target, but Arbeloa insisted that the victory was the only thing that mattered, as his side continued to keep pace with the league leaders.

When asked if he enjoyed the performance from Madrid in the post-match press conference, Arbeola said: "We won the game, which is what Real Madrid play for. Which is what we want and the objective we had today.

"There is no better way to celebrate these 124 years of history of the best club in the world, than to do it this way.

"Like Real Madrid does: fighting against everything and everyone.

"In a match to which we came with a lot of difficulties and casualties. I think we have to celebrate it for how it has been.

"We deserved to win, despite everything that happened in the match."

Victory in Balaídos!

— Real Madrid C.F.  (@realmadriden) March 6, 2026

Arbeloa praised Valverde's performance, with the Uruguayan popping up with a crucial goal to score his second of the league campaign.

"All a Real Madrid player should be is Federico Valverde," lauded the Spaniard.

"He has that 'spirit of Juanito'.

"Today the team has been put on his back, again. Very happy for him, he deserves it a lot."

Attention now turns to the Champions League and the first leg at home to Manchester City, with Arbeloa issuing a rallying cry to the club's supporters ahead of the match at the Santiago Bernabeu. 

He said: "We need them on Wednesday and they know it better than anyone.

"We played against one of the great clubs in the world of football. But we are much stronger when they are by our side."