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Played
October 20, 2012 5:00 PM BST
Estadio Santiago Bernabéu — Madrid
Referee:‬ Carlos Clos‎
Attendance:‬ 70000‎
 
 
67′ (PG) Cristiano Ronaldo
 

Real Madrid - Celta Vigo Preview: Depleted Blancos plot return to winning ways

A crippling injury wave during the international break has decimated Jose Mourinho's squad ahead of Saturday's clash with the Galician outfit at the Santiago Bernabeu

By Karthick Arvinth

Damia Abella; Augusto Fernandez - Celta Vigo v Osasuna
Getty Images
  PROBABLE LINEUPS

REAL MADRID

Casillas
Ramos, Pepe, Albiol, Nacho
Essien, Alonso
Callejon, Modric, Ronaldo
Higuain
CELTA VIGO

Varas
Mallo, Cabral, Tunez, Lago
Oubina, Insa
Fernandez, Park, Krohn-Dehli
Aspas

Real Madrid are facing an ever-growing sick list that could rob them of a half a dozen players for their Primera Division encounter with Celta Vigo.

Full-backs Marcelo (foot), Alvaro Arbeloa (hamstring) and Fabio Coentrao (groin) are definitely out after sustaining injuries during international duty, while Sami Khedira, Raphael Varane, Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain are all racing to be fit for the Bernabeu match.

Coach Jose Mourinho looks set to ease his defensive crisis by handing a start to Castilla's Nacho at left-back, with Sergio Ramos likely to step in at the opposite flank.

Celta Vigo goalkeeper Javi Varas has resumed training after suffering a dislocated finger and may return to the starting XI.

Nacho Insa (knee) and Andres Tunez (back) will be handed late fitness tests, while striker Toni (ankle) is fit.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Real Madrid are on a 15-match unbeaten Liga run at the Santiago Bernabeu (W12, D3).
  • The Castilian side have already dropped 10 points in La Liga this term, just four fewer than in the whole of last season.
  • Cristiano Ronaldo (pictured, right) has scored eight goals in his last three matches for Real in all competitions.
  • Celta Vigo are yet to win on their travels in La Liga this term, having lost all three of their away fixtures to date.
  • However, Os Celestes triumphed against Madrid on their last two Liga visits to the Bernabeu.
  • Celta's last defeat away to Real was a 4-2 reverse in February 2004.


Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
Head to Head
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Spain - Copa del Rey ‎(ESPC)‎ Jan 9, 2013 Real Madrid CF 4 - Celta 0
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Spain - Copa del Rey ‎(ESPC)‎ Dec 12, 2012 Celta 2 - Real Madrid CF 1
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Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ Oct 20, 2012 Real Madrid CF 2 - Celta 0
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Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ Apr 1, 2007 Celta 1 - Real Madrid CF 2
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Last Five Matches
Odds
Returns: Real Madrid £11.25 PaddyPower Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Returns: Draw £510.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Celta £810.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Team News
Available Squads
1Iker CasillasGoalkeeper
19Raphaël VaraneDefender
3PepeDefender
4Sergio RamosDefender
8KakáMidfielder
10Mesut ÖzilMidfielder
14Xabi AlonsoMidfielder
5Michael EssienMidfielder
16Luka ModricMidfielder
7Cristiano RonaldoStriker
20Gonzalo HiguaínStriker
13AdánGoalkeeper
2Ricardo CarvalhoDefender
18Raúl Albiol TortajadaDefender
27NachoDefender
21CallejónStriker
22Ángel Di MaríaMidfielder
9Karim BenzemaStriker
1SergioGoalkeeper
2Hugo MalloDefender
3Roberto LagoMidfielder
5Andres Tuñez ArceoDefender
12Gustavo Daniel CabralDefender
4OubiñaMidfielder
8Alex LópezMidfielder
7Cristian BustosMidfielder
24Augusto FernándezMidfielder
10Iago AspasStriker
23Michael Krohn-DehliStriker
13Javi VarasGoalkeeper
16BellvísMidfielder
21SamuelDefender
9BermejoStriker
18Chu-Young ParkStriker
20ToniMidfielder
22De LucasStriker
Players to Watch
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 7
Games Goals YC RC
34 34 9 0
The 27-year-old striker racked up his 100th international appearance for Portugal against Northern Ireland on Tuesday, but the occasion was marred by a below-par performance that drew criticism from the Portuguese media. Ronaldo will look to put a disappointing international break behind him and extend his remarkable start to the domestic season in Spain, where he has scored 14 goals after just 11 games in all competitions.
Michael Krohn-Dehli
Michael Krohn-Dehli
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 23
Games Goals YC RC
32 1 7 0
One of the standout performers for Denmark at Euro 2012, Krohn-Dehli showcased intelligent wing play and plenty of technical skill to score two goals in his country's short-lived campaign in Poland and Ukraine. The former Ajax winger will be a threat to whoever plays at right-back for the hosts, especially on the counterattack.
Prediction
If this was being played a fortnight ago, the hosts would probably have run out comfortable winners. A glut of injuries at the Bernabeu gives the visitors a glimmer of hope to produce an upset, but Madrid still possess enough firepower to outscore their opponents.
Editor's Prediction
Celta 1
Results
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Lionel Messi Lionel Messi
Striker
Barcelona
46 4
Cristiano Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo
Striker
Real Madrid
34 6
Radamel Falcao Radamel Falcao
Striker
Atl. Madrid
28 8
Roberto Soldado Roberto Soldado
Striker
Valencia
21 5
Negredo Negredo
Striker
Sevilla
20 3