VIDEO: 10-man Real Madrid beat Celta Vigo without Hazard
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Real Madrid opened their 2019-20 La liga campaign with a 1-3 away win over Celta Vigo at the Balaidos. The Los Blancos were with their summer signing Eden Hazard who was ruled out of the match due to injury but got all three points away from home. Goals from Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos and second half substitute Lucas Vazquez gave Zinedine Zidane’s side a bright start.
There was one major shock in Zidane’s first Real Madrid XI of the season, as Gareth Bale is given a surprise start on the right wing. Courtois was protected by a back four of Odriozola, Varane, Ramos and Marcelo, while the trio in midfield is the predictable Modric, Casemiro and Kroos. Celta’s boss Escriba chooses a back four, with Olaza, Costas, Araujo and Kevin Vazquez playing in front of goalkeeper Blanco. With Beltran and Lobotka patrolling the centre of the pitch while Barcelona loanee Suarez and Mendez played either flank. In attack, Fernandez is chosen to play alongside captain Aspas.
Real Madrid mark their good start with a goal in the 12th minute courtesy of Benzema but all the plaudits goes to Bale whose incredible slaloming run saw him lose two defenders before centring a low cross into the six-yard box. The pass pulls the goalkeeper out of position – allowing Benzema to tuck it away neatly.
On the half-hour mark Aspas goes on an overlapping run down the right and puts a delicious early cross to the far post for Fernandez. It’s an exceptionally accurate delivery, but a sliding Varane was able to get enough of a toe to the ball to put the striker off, and disrupt what would have been a sure equaliser.
The Los Blancos should have been two goals up in the 44th minute after a wonderful strike from Bale in the 18 yard box but his attempt was saved by Ruben Blanco. Celta could have been levelled in the before the break but Mendez goal was ruled out as offside after VAR checking which shows Aspas received the ball in an offside position before setting up Mendez.
Escriba’s men finish the first 45 minutes as the best side but failed to make it count as Real Madrid scored the only goal before the break.
Real Madrid started the second half on a bright note and could’ve scored as early as 3 minutes after restart. Brazil left fullback Marcelo keeps the ball in play with a lovely turn at the byline and lays it back for Benzema. The striker goes for placement with the first-time hit, but he drags his shot inches wide of the bottom-right corner of the goal.
Real Madrid were down to 10 men in the 56th minute after Modric received his matching orders for a reckless tackle on Denis Suarez. Few minutes later, Courtois kept Madrid in the game in the 58th minute after saving a point-blank header from an unmarked Araujo with Ramos failing to pick his man up in the six-yard box.
Even after being reduced to 10 men, Zidane’s side scored the second goal of the game courtesy of a stunning strike from Kroos. The Germany international takes a step inside after receiving a pass from Marcelo before hammering an absolute thunderbolt from 40 yards out which smashes off the underside of the crossbar and over the line.
Real Madrid were three goals up in the 80th minute courtesy of a wonderful strike from Vazquez. Celta winger Sisto was extremely sloppy in possession ahead of his own penalty area as he was intercepts a pass and then gives it away almost immediately, with Casemiro nipping in. Los Blancos immediately press into the penalty area where Benzema’s beautiful turn opens up a lane for Lucas Vazquez to receive the ball and slot it past Blanco.
Celta Vigo pull one back few minutes before the final whistle through Iker Losada.The 18-year old pulls away from Ramos in the penalty area and takes a touch before hitting a low, powerful shot which beats Courtois at the left-hand post.
Real Madrid will welcome Real Valladolid at the Santiago Bernabeu next week while Celta Vigo will play host to Valencia at the Balaidos.
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REAL MADRID XI (4-3-3): Thibaut Courtois; Alvaro Odriozola, Raphael Varane, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo; Luka Modric, Casemiro, Toni Kroos; Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Vinicius Junior.
REAL MADRID SUBS: Nacho Fernandez, Eder Militao, Lucas Vazquez, Isco, Keylor Navas, James Rodriguez, Luka Jovic.
CELTA VIGO XI (4-2-2-2): Ruben Blanco; Lucas Olaza, David Costas, Nestor Araujo, Kevin Vazquez; Fran Beltran, Stanislav Lobotka; Denis Suarez, Brais Mendez; Iago Aspas, Gabriel Fernandez.
CELTA VIGO SUBS: Pione Sisto, Joseph Aidoo, Pape Cheikh, Ivan Villar, Jorge Saenz, Sergio Bermejo, Iker Losada.
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