SATV, Kathmandu, Mar. 08 - Real Madrid scored with a deflected shot in the 94th minute to win 2-1 at Celta Vigo and close the gap on La Liga leader Barcelona to one point.
Madrid was seeking to avoid a run of three successive losses for the first time since 2018 and needed a massive dose of luck to secure all three points.
It went ahead after 11 minutes when Aurélien Tchouaméni's shot from just inside the penalty box left the Celta keeper flatfooted.
Celta's experienced striker Borja Iglesias equalized for the home side with his third goal in four games after 25 minutes, and strike partner Iago Aspas was unfortunate to see his shot come back off the post with two minutes remaining as both sides pushed for a winner. But a massive stroke of luck in the dying seconds gave Madrid victory.
Federico Valverde's shot from outside the box took a wicked deflection that left keeper Ionut Radu with no chance.
"It hurts because it was right at the death," Iglesias said. "It's a bit frustrating."
Barcelona plays its game in hand against Athletic Bilbao on Saturday. Madrid has 63 points while Barcelona has 64.
Celta remains sixth with 40.
Meanwhile, Napoli beat Torino 2-1 to close the gap on second-place AC Milan to one point and maintain its record as the only team still unbeaten at home in Serie A this season. Torino hasn't beaten Napoli in the top tier since the 2008-09 season and it fell behind after six minutes.
Alisson Santos created a meter of space on the edge of the Torino penalty area and fired a low shot past the outstretched arm of Alberto Paleari.
Third-place Napoli dominated throughout and Eljif Elmas spun to volley home Matteo Politano's knock down and make it 2-0 midway through the second half. Napoli coach Antonio Conte introduced playmaker Kevin De Bruyne for his first appearance since an October injury, but his team was forced to sweat in the final seconds after Cesare Casadei pulled back a late consolation goal for Torino.
Napoli, though, held on to open a five-point gap on fourth-place Roma. It now has 56 points, one behind Milan and 11 behind champions-elect Inter.Inter and Milan face off in the Milan derby on Sunday.
Torino is 14th with 30 points. Likewise, Paris Saint-Germain dropped points in the Ligue 1 title race after losing 3-1 at home to a slick Monaco side.
Leader PSG's fourth league defeat of the campaign could have been even heavier and rival Lens can move within one point at the top by beating rock-bottom Metz on Sunday.
Livewire winger Maghnes Akliouche opened the scoring for Monaco and American forward Folarin Balogun sealed the win with a deflected strike in the 73rd minute.
Monaco beat PSG 1-0 in the league in September and has taken the lead in all four games this season, including two in the Champions League. PSG hosts Chelsea in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 game on Wednesday.
Akliouche pounced in the 27th minute after terrible defending from Warren Zaïre-Emery, who tried to dribble out of his penalty area and lost the ball.
Balogun reacted quickly to combine with Akliouche to his right, and he slammed the ball in off the post.
Akliouche scored at the same end at Parc des Princes in the return leg of the Champions League playoff. PSG advanced 5-4 on aggregate to set up the clash with Chelsea.
Fifth-place Monaco grabbed a second goal 10 minutes into the second half when midfielder Aleksandr Golovin, who had just come on, slid the ball into the bottom corner after latching onto a cross from the right. He almost scored again moments later with a superb dipping strike from 25 meters.
Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembélé came on for PSG on the hour mark, having missed the last three games with a calf injury, but lacked sharpness.
Forward Bradley Barcola pulled a goal back in the 71st with a deflected low shot, but Balogun restored the two-goal lead from the edge of the penalty area when his shot sailed over goalkeeper Matvei Safonov's head.
Safonov was beaten again near the end although Simon Adingra's shot hit the crossbar.
Akliouche makes World Cup case
Akliouche has made five appearances for France since breaking into the national team at the start of the season, and is pushing his case to be included in coach Didier Deschamps' World Cup squad later this year.
Akliouche caused problems throughout with his runs from deep and midfielder Vitinha intervened just in time to stop him shooting again late in the first half. (AP)
