Los Blancos bounced back from the 0-4 hammering that they had received at the hands of Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu with a 2-1 win over Celta Vigo in La Liga. The table-toppers were without their head coach Carlo Ancelotti who had tested positive for COVID-19. His son, Davide, took charge of the team instead.
Four changes were made to the Real Madrid lineup that started against Barcelona, with star striker Karim Benzema returning to the fold after the international break. Ferland Mendy, Lucas Vazquez and Marco Asensio all started the game as well.
The match saw a busy start as Iago Aspas’s shot was deflected wide while Benzema’s header found the side netting. Thibaut Courtois was on top of his game and made three spectacular saves in the first half to keep his side in the game.
Nolito’s challenge on Eder Militao inside his own box resulted in the first penalty of the match, which Benzema converted to make it his highest scoring campaign for Real Madrid.
There was another moment of controversy as a Celta goal was ruled out because VAR showed that Aspas had hindered David Alaba from making a goal-line clearance.
Celta soon found themselves level with Nolito sweeping past Courtois to make it 1-1. However, the lead did not last long as Real were awarded another penalty when substitute Rodrygo was adjudged to have been fouled inside the box, but Benzema’s kick from 12 yards was saved by goalkeeper Dituro.
The French forward had the last laugh, however, as five minutes later, he converted his spot-kick successfully after Mendy went down inside the box.
Atletico Madrid, meanwhile, routed Alaves at the Wanda Metropolitano. Joao Felix opened the floodgates and scored the only goal of the first half. Gonzalo Escalante restored parity in the match for Alaves, but it only fuelled Diego Simeone’s side to pile on more pressure.
Luis Suarez scored twice in the 75th minute and 90th minute, and his goals sandwiched Felix’s second goal of the match. Real Madrid have a 12-point lead at the top of the table, whereas Atletico are momentarily third as Barcelona take on second-placed Sevilla this Sunday.
