Match ends, Celta de Vigo 2, Real Madrid 4.
Real Madrid narrow Barcelona lead by beating Celta Vigo
- From the section European Football
Real Madrid narrowed the gap on La Liga leaders Barcelona to four points with a hard-fought victory at Celta Vigo.
Karim Benzema put Madrid ahead with an expert finish from Luka Modric's pass.
After the break Benzema's shot hit the post and went in off defender Gustavo Cabral to put Real 2-0 up but Celta's Hugo Mallo scored with a smart volley.
Sergio Ramos chipped in a penalty and Dani Ceballos smashed home in stoppage time after Cabral was sent off, with Brais Mendez adding a late consolation.
It was Madrid's fourth straight win under caretaker manager Santiago Solari, who was put in charge after Julen Lopetegui was sacked the day after a 5-1 defeat at Barcelona on 28 October.
Champions Barca had earlier on Sunday lost 4-3 at home to an impressive Real Betis side, and this Madrid victory brings the European champions back into the Spanish title race.
La Liga rules say temporary managers can only be in place for 14 days, and it is expected Argentine former Madrid winger Solari, 42, will be made permanent manager on Monday.
Madrid are sixth in the table, three points off the top four, while Celta are now 14th, four points above the relegation zone.
Line-ups
Celta Vigo
- 1Álvarez
- 2MalloBooked at 41mins
- 22CabralBooked at 87mins
- 24Roncaglia
- 17JuncàBooked at 44mins
- 23Méndez
- 5Yokuslu
- 8BeltránSubstituted forMorat 63'minutes
- 19BoufalSubstituted forHjulsagerat 63'minutes
- 10Iago Aspas
- 9Gómez
Substitutes
- 4Araújo
- 7Mor
- 13Blanco
- 16Hjulsager
- 20Vázquez
- 21Sánchez
- 25Alonso
Real Madrid
- 25Courtois
- 19Odriozola
- 6NachoSubstituted forAsensioat 71'minutes
- 4Ramos
- 23ReguilónBooked at 37minsSubstituted forSánchez de Felipeat 45+1'minutesBooked at 53mins
- 10Modric
- 14CasemiroSubstituted forCeballosat 19'minutes
- 8Kroos
- 17Vázquez
- 9Benzema
- 11Bale
Substitutes
- 1Navas
- 15Valverde
- 20Asensio
- 22Isco
- 24Ceballos
- 28Vinícius Júnior
- 31Sánchez de Felipe
- Referee:
- Alberto Undiano Mallenco
- Attendance:
- 21,184
Match Stats
Home TeamCelta VigoAway TeamReal Madrid
- Possession
- Home52%
- Away48%
- Shots
- Home16
- Away14
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away5
- Corners
- Home5
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home19
- Away13
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Celta de Vigo 2, Real Madrid 4.
Goal!
Goal! Celta de Vigo 2, Real Madrid 4. Brais Méndez (Celta de Vigo) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Iago Aspas.
Goal!
Goal! Celta de Vigo 1, Real Madrid 4. Dani Ceballos (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Sergio Ramos.
Attempt missed. Hugo Mallo (Celta de Vigo) right footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Iago Aspas.
Offside, Real Madrid. Marco Asensio tries a through ball, but Karim Benzema is caught offside.
Corner, Celta de Vigo. Conceded by Javi Sánchez.
Offside, Celta de Vigo. David Juncà tries a through ball, but Hugo Mallo is caught offside.
Dismissal
Second yellow card to Gustavo Cabral (Celta de Vigo).
Andrew Hjulsager (Celta de Vigo) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Toni Kroos (Real Madrid).
Corner, Celta de Vigo. Conceded by Thibaut Courtois.
Emre Mor (Celta de Vigo) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid).
Goal!
Goal! Celta de Vigo 1, Real Madrid 3. Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the high centre of the goal.
Penalty conceded by David Juncà (Celta de Vigo) after a foul in the penalty area.
Penalty Real Madrid. Álvaro Odriozola draws a foul in the penalty area.
Hand ball by Dani Ceballos (Real Madrid).
Maxi Gómez (Celta de Vigo) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Javi Sánchez (Real Madrid).
Offside, Celta de Vigo. Okay Yokuslu tries a through ball, but Emre Mor is caught offside.
Attempt blocked. Emre Mor (Celta de Vigo) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Iago Aspas.
Substitution
Substitution, Real Madrid. Marco Asensio replaces Nacho because of an injury.
Attempt saved. Iago Aspas (Celta de Vigo) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Gustavo Cabral.
Attempt missed. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Álvaro Odriozola with a cross.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Nacho (Real Madrid) because of an injury.
Substitution
Substitution, Celta de Vigo. Andrew Hjulsager replaces Sofiane Boufal.
Substitution
Substitution, Celta de Vigo. Emre Mor replaces Fran Beltrán.
Attempt missed. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Toni Kroos.
Luka Modric (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Okay Yokuslu (Celta de Vigo).
Goal!
Goal! Celta de Vigo 1, Real Madrid 2. Hugo Mallo (Celta de Vigo) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Brais Méndez with a through ball.
Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Iago Aspas (Celta de Vigo).
Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Hugo Mallo (Celta de Vigo).
Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Sofiane Boufal (Celta de Vigo).
Goal!
Own Goal by Gustavo Cabral, Celta de Vigo. Celta de Vigo 0, Real Madrid 2.
