Real Madrid v Celta de Vigo Live Commentary & Result, 02/01/2021, Primera División

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	PTS	Form
1	ATM Atlético Madrid	38	26	8	4	67	25	+42	86	W W W D W
2	RMA Real Madrid	38	25	9	4	67	28	+39	84	W W W D W
3	BAR Barcelona	38	24	7	7	85	38	+47	79	W L D D W
4	SEV Sevilla	38	24	5	9	53	33	+20	77	W L W D L
5	RSO Real Sociedad	38	17	11	10	59	38	+21	62	W W L W L
6	BET Real Betis	38	17	10	11	50	50	0	61	W W D W D
7	VIL Villarreal	38	15	13	10	60	44	+16	58	L W W L W
8	CEL Celta de Vigo	38	14	11	13	55	57	-2	53	L W W W W
9	GRA Granada	38	13	7	18	47	65	-18	46	D L L L L
10	ATH Athletic Club	38	11	13	14	46	42	+4	46	L L L D W
11	OSA Osasuna	38	11	11	16	37	48	-11	44	L L W D L
12	CAD Cádiz	38	11	11	16	36	58	-22	44	D L L W W
13	VAL Valencia	38	10	13	15	50	53	-3	43	D W L W L
14	LEV Levante	38	9	14	15	46	57	-11	41	D L D D L
15	GET Getafe	38	9	11	18	28	43	-15	38	D W L L L
16	ALA Deportivo Alavés	38	9	11	18	36	57	-21	38	L W W D L
17	ELC Elche	38	8	12	18	34	55	-21	36	W W L L L
18	HUE Huesca	38	7	13	18	34	53	-19	34	D L W L W
19	VLD Real Valladolid	38	5	16	17	34	57	-23	31	L L L L D
20	EIB Eibar	38	6	12	20	29	52	-23	30	L L D W W

That concludes our commentary of the LaLiga fixture between Real Madrid and Celta Vigo. We hope you enjoyed it!

Next up for Real Madrid is a trip to play Osasuna on January 9, while Celta Vigo will look to get back to winning ways in a Copa del Rey fixture against Ibiza in midweek, before hosting Villarreal in LaLiga on Friday.

Real Madrid extend their unbeaten streak in LaLiga to seven matches thanks to their comfortable 2-0 victory over Celta Vigo. The points were won just five minutes in when Asensio’s chip met the head of Vazquez for the opener and secured just before the hour when the roles were reversed and the latter was able to provide an assist for the former. The visitors rarely exerted any pressure on the hosts, as Courtois finished the match without facing a great deal. After a fine run of form, Celta were held goalless for the first time since October 17 against Atletico Madrid, while Real Madrid register their second clean sheet in three. The win puts Madrid top, while Celta stay eighth ahead of tomorrow’s action.

90' + 4' FULL-TIME: REAL MADRID 2-0 CELTA VIGO.

90' + 3' WHAT A SAVE! Courtois is able to get a palm on Baeza’s cross from the left, but only enough to push it into Mina’s path.The striker latches onto the loose ball but the keeper throws himself at the foot of the forward to smother the chance!

90' + 2' The fourth official indicates that three minutes will be added for stoppages.

M. Díaz

K. Benzema

90' + 1' The missed shot is Benzema's last involvement of the day - as Mariano is on in his place.

89' BENZEMA SENDS IT OVER! The striker’s search for a goal continues as he receives a pass from Kroos, cuts inside from the right and fires an effort which blazes high above Blanco’s crossbar.

Casemiro

Yellow Card

87' Casemiro dives into a challenge on Mina in midfield and is shown a yellow card for the infringement.

Vinícius Júnior

Dani Carvajal

85' Vinicius takes Carvajal's place with five minutes remaining.

F. Valverde

T. Kroos

85' Valverde is on for Modric as Real Madrid look to see out the result.

M. Ødegaard

L. Modrić

85' Modric is replaced by Odegaard as Zidane makes a number of changes.

Dani Carvajal

Yellow Card

84' Carvajal is booked on his way off the pitch, which means he will miss Real Madrid’s next match.

81' Mallo looks to clip a cross into the penalty area for Mina from the right after Olaza’s delivery from the left was met with a block - but Varane rises highest to nod away the danger.

79' Celta Vigo have only won one of their last 11 away LaLiga games (D6 L4) but this win was under Coudet – 2-0 vs Athletic Bilbao at San Mames on MD12.

76' Mendez looks to spring Mina through on-goal with a disguised pass, but Varane is there to shield the ball immediately, prompting Courtois to race off his line and pick it up.

E. Hazard

Marco Asensio

74' Real Madrid make their first change of the match, which sees Asensio replaced by Hazard.

71' Suarez takes a corner-kick but it fails to beat the first man as Benzema stoops low to clear the delivery out of the penalty area.

69' Celta Vigo will need to do something soon if they wish to set up a grandstand finish. The visitors have seen much more of the ball in the second half, but they’ve not yet been able to force Courtois into a save.

67' Celta have a free-kick deep in their own half after Real Madrid's overzealous press gets them in trouble with the referee. It should be no worry for the hosts though - as time continues to tick.

Miguel Baeza

Nolito

64' Celta make their second change of the match, replacing Nolito with Baeza.

63' BENZEMA ROLLS IT WIDE AGAIN! Kroos’ leading pass gets the striker into the penalty area, but his off-balance strike to the far post is sent just past the post - though it was close enough to force a dive from Blanco.

62' Suarez looks to split Nacho and Mendy with an incisive pass to play Mendez into the penalty area, but it’s hit with too much power as Courtois casually collects for a goal-kick.

60' Real Madrid have scored in each of their last 28 home LaLiga games against Celta de Vigo (74 goals in total, 2.6 per game), their current longest scoring run at home against a single team in the competition.

58' Zidane’s side are looking very professional as they close down space when out of possession, and keep it coolly when they do. The three points will send Real Madrid top by a point should they see out the match, though rivals Atletico have three matches in-hand.

55' Down by two goals and without their leading scorer, Celta Vigo have quite the mountain to climb in the last 30 minutes. Of the 22 goals scored by the visitors this season, Aspas has had a hand in 15 of them; nine goals and six assists.

Lucas Vázquez

Assist

53' The combination of Vazquez and Asensio pays dividends once again - though this time the roles are reversed as Vazquez is credited with the assist.

Marco Asensio

Goal

53' REAL MADRID DOUBLE THEIR ADVANTAGE! A goal is the least Asensio deserves after his wonderful display this match! A weak Murillo pass is intercepted in midfield by Casemiro, who immediately plays it forward for Vazquez. The winger gets into the penalty area and squares a pass for Asensio, who latches onto it and sends a rocket into the top corner! 2-0!

Fran Beltrán

Iago Aspas

51' A substitution is made before the free-kick, as Aspas is somewhat surprisingly taken off. Beltran is his replacement, but it’s uncertain whether the change was sparked by injury or by design.

Nacho

Yellow Card

50' Aspas gets onto the loose ball on the right flank and looks to break forward, but Nacho sticks a leg out and trips the striker up, giving away a free-kick. The centre-back is also booked for the infringement.

48' Casemiro's intercepted cross in midfield sparks a Celta counter-attack, but the visitors are forced to slow the play down and hold onto possession after Mina is unable to work space to shoot from the edge of the 18-yard box.

46' Celta Vigo get the match restarted from the kick-off!

As Celta pour forward in the second half, their full-backs will need to be aware of Madrid’s counter-attacking threat. With Vinicius and Hazard both available from the bench, the visitors will need to do their best to keep the deficit at just one, while trying to find the equaliser. It doesn’t appear, however, that coach Eduardo Coudet will be able to do much from the substitute’s bench, as nine out of his side’s last 10 goals have come from those already on the pitch - with Beltran the only exception. If they are to get anything from the match, Aspas must be brought into play more often.

The first half comes to a close with Real Madrid leading 1-0, thanks to Vazquez’s headed finish after just five minutes. Asensio’s assist should have served as a warning, with the left-winger involved in everything positive for his side going forward in the first 45. His interchanging with Benzema has given Mallo and Araujo no end of troubles - including a shot from the striker from close-range which was sent just wide. Celta started the match well but Aspas’ opportunity prior to Asensio’s goal was the only chance they had to trouble Courtois, with Nacho saving the day with his goal-line clearance. The visitors will need to step it up should they wish to take anything from the match, as two shots in three-quarters of an hour will not suffice.

45' HALF-TIME: REAL MADRID 1-0 CELTA VIGO.

43' JUST WIDE! The free-kick isn’t cleared properly as the ball is sent to the edge of the 18-yard box and no further. Carvajal is well-placed and lines up a volley which he hits cleanly - but it misses the target narrowly!

R. Tapia

Yellow Card

42' Modric is brought down in midfield by Tapia, whose trailing leg brought down the Madrid number 10. It’s a yellow card for the Celta Vigo player - who will miss next match through suspension.

40' The free-kick comes into the penalty area from the left, but Celta are unable to get near it as it’s knocked down by a defender before Modric whacks it away.

Marco Asensio

Yellow Card

38' Asensio lets his frustration get the better of him, taking Aspas’ legs out from under him. It’s the first yellow card of the match for a Real Madrid player.

36' CLOSE FROM BENZEMA! The striker takes up a position just left of centre inside the Celta penalty area and receives a pass from Asensio in space. At the first time of asking, he whacks his left boot at the ball but it drags just wide of the far post!

36' Murillo gets into Madrid’s half and looks to play a clever chip into the penalty area for Aspas to latch onto, but the striker is far too eager in pursuit of the ball - bowling Nacho over from behind and giving away a free-kick.

34' Celta Vigo have found it very difficult to get back into the game after conceding the early goal. Madrid are patient in the knowledge that their opponents will be forced to come forward the longer it remains 1-0, opening up space at the back. Zidane’s side look confident, even if they’ve seen less of the ball in recent minutes.

31' Suarez finds Olaza in space down the left flank, but the full-back’s delivery is extremely poor as Nacho is able to cut it off before reaching Aspas.

28' Celta appeal to the referee for a penalty after Murillo’s volley following a corner seemed to catch the elbow of Mendy, but it seems completely innocuous and the match official waves claims away immediately.

26' Real Madrid are unbeaten in their last 12 LaLiga games against Celta de Vigo (W10 D2), since a 0-2 defeat at Balaídos in May 2014 - the last time they failed to score against them in the competition.

24' Benzema is brought down in midfield after Murillo goes low on the striker, taking his legs out from under him. It’s the fifth free-kick given away by Celta in just over 20 minutes.

22' As Real Madrid attack again, it seems as though the forward trio are being told to squeeze more and more in-field, allowing the full-backs to push higher up the pitch to provide the width. Asensio is now attacking the space in-between Mallo and Araujo - which will make it harder for the former to get up the pitch, as he is wont to do.

20' Asensio is once again at the heart of Madrid’s attacks as he delivers a low cross into the penalty area for Benzema, but Mallo is there to intercept.

18' Real Madrid players queue up and wait for their chance to strike as Vazquez brings the ball towards the 18-yard box, but it’s Modric who receives the square pass. He takes a moment to set himself, but the eventual effort is blocked at the last moment by Araujo.

16' Benzema reaches the edge of the penalty area and lays the ball off for Mendy, but it’s an incredibly poor cross from the left-back, which balloons high and winds up going out for a Celta throw-in on the other side.

14' More frustration for Celta as Tapia goes to ground and catches Asensio, bringing him down well inside his own half and giving away a free-kick.

12' Looking for Vazquez again, Asensio clips a cross to the far post - but this time it’s put a bit too far as Blanco is allowed to collect for a goal-kick.

Brais Méndez

Yellow Card

10' Mendez is called for a foul on Asensio inside Celta’s half. There’s no doubt that the goal conditioned the winger’s reaction, who decided immediately to pull down the Madrid forward instead of allowing him passage again. It’s a booking for the Celta Vigo player.

8' Celta were so close to opening the scoring themselves after a lovely ball played over the top for Aspas - but his inability to put more power on the shot really cost his side - as the visitors had camped inside Madrid’s half.

Marco Asensio

Assist

6' One winger serves the other as Asensio's cross for Vazquez is the assist!

Lucas Vázquez

Goal

6' REAL MADRID MAKE IT 1-0 EARLY! Real Madrid hit on the counter-attack after Aspas’ failed chip over Courtois at one end leads to a goal at the other. Asensio was able to make his way unimpeded down the wing before crossing to the far post for Vazquez, who nodded the chance in easily!

3' Real Madrid have been able to hold onto possession in the opening minutes, but an organised Celta midfield has offered little in the way of space, as Modric is forced to turn back and pass to Varane yet again.

1' Real Madrid get the match underway from the kick-off!

Celta Vigo see no need to change their formation, sticking with the same shape and personnel that beat Huesca 2-1. Blanco is kept between the posts, behind a back four of Mallo, Araujo, Murillo and Olaza. Mendez and Nolito cover the flanks while Suarez and Tapia continue their partnership in midfield, the latter providing defensive cover. In attack, Mina plays beside the talisman - Aspas.

Real Madrid make two changes to the XI that drew with Elche last time out. Mendy replaces Marcelo at left-back, while Nacho is alongside him at centre-back, taking over for the unavailable Sergio Ramos.

CELTA VIGO SUBS: Lautaro De Leon, Joseph Aidoo, Sergio Carreira, Miguel Rodriguez, Ivan Villar, Miguel Baeza, Okay Yokuslu, Fran Beltran, Jose Manuel Fontan, Gabriel Veiga.

CELTA VIGO XI (4-4-2): Ruben Blanco; Hugo Mallo, Nestor Araujo, Jeison Murillo, Lucas Olaza; Brais Mendez, Denis Suarez, Renato Tapia, Nolito; Iago Aspas, Santi Mina.

REAL MADRID SUBS: Marcelo, Isco, Martin Odegaard, Federico Valverde, Eder Militao, Mariano, Luka Jovic, Eden Hazard, Andriy Lunin, Vinicius Junior, Diego Altube, Alvaro Odriozola.

REAL MADRID XI (4-3-3): Thibaut Courtois; Ferland Mendy, Nacho Fernandez, Raphael Varane, Dani Carvajal; Luka Modric, Casemiro, Toni Kroos; Marco Asensio, Karim Benzema, Lucas Vazquez.

With 15 minutes to go before kick-off, let’s look at how the two sides are lining up, starting with our hosts!

After gaining only three out of a possible 28 points from the end of September until mid-November, Celta Vigo have completely turned their form around and won five of their subsequent six matches in LaLiga. As is so often the case, Iago Aspas has been crucial to Celta’s success, scoring in four of his last five matches. The eighth-placed side can go as high as sixth with a win today, though it’d be their first victory over Madrid in the league since a 2-0 in 2014.

Real Madrid’s draw with Elche three days ago arrested a run of five consecutive LaLiga victories; a far cry from their November form which saw them winless in the month. Los Blancos now sit second in the table, two points back of cross-town rivals Atletico Madrid having played two matches more.

Hello and welcome to our LIVE commentary of the LaLiga fixture between Real Madrid and Celta Vigo!

Real Madrid v Celta de Vigo Live Commentary, 02/01/2021

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