Real Madrid are seven points ahead of second-placed Girona and are favorites to win a 36th Spanish league title, extending their record.
La Liga leaders Real Madrid regained their seven-point cushion at the top by benefiting from two own goals in a comfortable 4-0 home win over Celta Vigo.
Vinicius Junior pounced on a rebound from Antonio Rudiger's header at the second attempt midway through the first half at the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday, before a Celta side coached by former Madrid coach Rafa Benítez fell apart late on.
Rudiger fired another header against the crossbar, which bounced off Celta goalkeeper Vicente Guaita and over the line to score an own goal, effectively sealing the points for the hosts with 11 minutes remaining.
Guaita was then involved in a mix-up with Carlos Domínguez when the defender put a taunting cross from Vinicius into his own goal.
Turkish star Arda Guler, whose debut season in Spain has been devastated by injuries, came off the bench to score his first goal for Madrid in stoppage time as Carlo Ancelotti's side ignored the absence of sanctioned Jude Bellingham.
“I'm very happy, trying to do my best. The best part of the season is approaching, the good games, and I want to continue like this. I hope I don't suffer injuries, which have hurt me a little this season,” Vinicius told Real Madrid TV.
Bellingham, the league's top scorer this season with 16 goals, watched from the stands after an appeal against the England international's two-match ban for his red card against Valencia last weekend was dismissed.
Madrid played poorly in a 1-1 draw against RB Leipzig on Wednesday, but it was enough to advance them to the Champions League quarterfinals 2-1 on aggregate.
🏁 @realmadriden 4-0 @RCCeltaES
⚽ 21' @vinijr
⚽ 79' Vicente Guaita (g)
⚽ 88' Carlos Domínguez (g)
⚽ 90'+4' @10ardaguler#RealMadridCelta | #Emirates pic.twitter.com/8JjqdIhwfR— Real Madrid CF 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) March 10, 2024
Vinicius loses his cool
Vinicius was reprimanded in that match for a fight with an opponent. The Brazilian found himself in trouble again on Sunday for angrily attacking Óscar Mingueza after a couple of cynical tugs on Vinicius' shirt.
“It was a very ugly incident. I think the referee was right to caution both of them. “What happened with Vini was a bit of frustration and it is normal,” Ancelotti said.
“What I speak to you remains between us. It is something we have talked about and will continue to do so. It's not just Vini's problem.”
Despite dropping points in three of their last five league games, Madrid had recently gained ground on second-placed Girona as the surprise challengers' unlikely title bid began to dwindle.
Madrid are now unbeaten in 22 games in La Liga and eight points clear of defending champions Barcelona, who are just behind Girona in third place.
“It wasn't that difficult to do better than Wednesday,” Ancelotti said. “We started well, we took advantage of set pieces to take the lead and then we did the job.
“We are happy, focused and motivated because it is an important stage of the season. “At Real Madrid, a draw is the first step towards a crisis.”
Celta remains in 17th place and just two points from the relegation zone.
