Celta Vigo 2 Real Madrid 4: Solari leads Los Blancos to fourth straight win
Interim boss Santiago Solari guided Real Madrid to a fourth consecutive win in all competitions on Sunday as they eased past Celta Vigo 4-2 in LaLiga.
The Argentine has steadied the ship following Julen Lopetegui’s dismissal last month and will fancy his chances of landing the top job on a permanent basis with his 14-day temporary spell now at an end.
Karim Benzema was in inspired form for Los Blancos, scoring his side’s first after 23 minutes with a composed finish and then forcing Gustavo Cabral into an unfortunate own goal 11 minutes into the second half.
Celta captain Hugo Mallo set up a tense final half-hour with a clinical volley, but Real – who lost Casemiro, Sergio Reguilon and Nacho to injury during the game – added late goals through Sergio Ramos’ penalty and Dani Ceballos’ long-range strike.
Cabral’s miserable night was completed late on when he received a second yellow card in between those goals, while Brais Mendez scored a late consolation for the hosts.
FT: @RCCelta 2-4 @realmadrid
Mallo 61′ Brais 90’+4′; @Benzema 23′, Cabral OG 56′, @SergioRamos 83′ (p), @DaniCeballos46 90’+1’#Emirates | #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/PTjkF0003f
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) November 11, 2018
Real almost fell behind midway through the first half, but Okay Yokuslu’s header crashed back off the inside of Thibaut Courtois’ right upright.
Solari’s side took advantage of that reprieve in the 23rd minute, Benzema collecting Luka Modric’s pass and coolly slotting past Sergio Alvarez.
Toni Kroos blazed over an open goal from Benzema’s pull back 10 minutes before the interval, while Courtois got down well to deny Mendez on the stroke of half-time.
Benzema, who whipped an effort against the crossbar shortly after the restart, was also instrumental in Real’s second after 56 minutes, his low shot hitting the post after squirming through Alvarez, and inadvertently turned into his own net by Cabral on the line.
Mallo met Mendez’s lofted ball over the top with a wonderful first-time volley past Courtois to pull a goal back for Celta five minutes later.
Any hopes of a grandstand finish were extinguished after 82 minutes, however, when Ramos scored from the spot after Alvaro Odriozola had been fouled.
Cabral received a second yellow card for a lunge on Ramos before Ceballos added a fourth in stoppage time with a dipping drive from 20 yards.
Mendez added a second for Celta with a deflected strike from the edge of the area with almost the last kick of the game, but it did little to take the shine off a fine night for Solari and his side.
What does it mean? Solari surely in pole position
The opposition has not exactly been elite, but four wins on the spin after the early-season turmoil at Madrid is not to be sniffed at. Solari is the first Los Blancos manager to win his first four competitive games in charge since Manuel Pellegrini in 2009 and he must be the favourite to get the job on a permanent basis after what has been a perfect audition.
Benzema proves decisive
Fresh from a midweek Champions League brace against Viktoria Plzen – his 200th and 201st goals for the club – Benzema had a real spring in his step against Celta. He showed superb composure to put Madrid ahead and his only disappointment will be that he did not add to his tally.
9 – Karim @Benzema has scored 10+ goals in nine of his 10 seasons for @realmadriden in all competitions. Fire. pic.twitter.com/Rv4K8Yb2ls
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) November 11, 2018
Bale’s struggles continue
The Welshman was expected to thrive following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo, but his woes in front of goal continued against Celta. The 29-year-old has now gone eight games without scoring in LaLiga – his longest ever drought in the competition.
What’s next?
Madrid travel to Eibar when LaLiga returns after the international break, while Celta visit Real Sociedad.
