Brais Méndez has scored a goal for Celta Vigo! Assist by Iago Aspas.
FULL-TIME: CELTA VIGO 2-4 REAL MADRID
Aspas knocks the ball back to Mendez, who does the rest with his deflected finish.
GOALLLLLLLLLL!!!! MENDEZ SCORES!!! 4-2!!!! Celta get a late goal to improve the scoreline as Mendez's strike is deflected into the net. Aspas makes a driving run into the Madrid box before cutting a pass back to his team-mate. Mendez fires at goal and his effort hits the leg of Javi Sanchez, which wrong foots Courtois to find the back of the net.
90' +1
Dani Ceballos has scored a goal for Real Madrid! Assist by Sergio Ramos.
Ramos offloads to Ceballos, who does the rest with a fine finish.
GOALLLLLLLLLL!!! CEBALLOS SCORES A STUNNER!! 4-1 MADRID!! Ceballos puts the icing on the cake for the visitors with a special strike from distance. He collects Ramos' offload before running at the Celta defence. The midfielder unleashes a powerful strike from 20 yards that soars into the top corner leaving Alvarez with no chance.
90'
OVER! Aspas picks out the run of Mallo in the box and he goes for the strike from a tight angle, only to hammer his effort harmlessly over the bar.
There will be four minutes of added time.
89'
Ramos covers with a sliding challenge at the back to stop Maxi Gomez firing at goal. The striker drifted into space, but before he could shoot the Madrid skipper was there with a fine closing tackle.
87'
G. Cabral gets a second yellow card and is sent off.
Cabral makes his unfortunate evening worse by earning a second yellow card. He catches Ramos late with a lunge, forcing the referee to brandish the yellow then a red card.
85'
The game is beyond the home side now, barring a bizarre twist in the final stages of the contest.
83'
Penalty goal scored by Sergio Ramos for Real Madrid!
GOALLLLLLLLLL!!! RAMOS CONVERTS! 3-1!!!! Ramos deploys the cheeky chip from the spot as he waits for Alvarez to commit himself. The Celta keeper dives to his left and Ramos lofts the ball down the middle, with just enough power to prevent Alvarez getting back to get a hand on it. Madrid surely have the three points secured now.
79'
Hjulsager raids down the left flank and looks for Maxi Gomez in the box, but he overhits his delivery and the ball goes out for a goal-kick.
77'
Frustration for Antonio Mohamed on the sideline as Yokuslu slides a pass to Mor, but the midfielder was in an offside position.
76'
The game is there for Celta if they can carve out a chance to find an equaliser. Madrid are vulnerable at the back without Casemiro for protection and Nacho in the defence. Javi Sanchez has already been booked.
Minute
Description
74'
Asensio turns with pace and finds Bale in space out on the left flank. The Welshman fires a low ball into the box, but Benzema is on his heels on the edge.
72'
Aspas weaves his way down the left flank before cutting the ball into the middle. Mor swings a leg at a strike on the edge of the box, but Ramos is well placed to make the block.
71'
Marco Asensio enters the game and replaces Nacho.
Nacho is forced from the field and is replaced by Asensio. This will force a re-shuffle at the back for the visitors.
68'
Odriozola makes a run down the right flank and he sends a low cross into the box that the Celta defence clear. The Madrid full-back remains on the deck for a few seconds. The visitors cannot afford another injury at the back.
65'
The goal has given the home side new life in the final third. Aspas has energy now in his play.
63'
A. Hjulsager enters the game and replaces S. Boufal.
E. Mor enters the game and replaces Fran Beltrán.
Beltran makes way for Mor for the home side.
Bale lines up a shot to nothing from distance as he lacks support in the final third, but he pulls his effort harmlessly wide of the post.
Hjulsager replaces Boufal on the flank for the hosts.
61'
Hugo Mallo has scored a goal for Celta Vigo! Assist by Brais Méndez.
GOALLLLLLLLL!!!! MALLO FINISHES SUPERBLY!!! 2-1!!! Celta are back in the game through a fine effort from their captain. Aspas and Mendez combined on the right flank to set up the opportunity with the latter clipping a ball into the right inside channel. Mallo made the run and struck his effort first time on the volley, firing his strike low into the bottom corner.
Mendez lifts a delightful ball over the top for Mallo to chase and score.
58'
The home side have a huge mountain to climb to get back into the contest. Madrid are in control of the game now.
56'
G. Cabral is unfortunate, scores an own goal!
GOALLLLLLLL!!!!! CABRAL SCORES AN OWN GOAL !! MADRID 2-0!!! Benzema gets the better of Roncaglia in the box, capitalising on a loose pass from the defender. He then turns Junca inside and out before drilling his effort through Alvarez. The ball strikes the post and then hits the covering Cabral on the line before finding the net.
54'
Mendez whips the ball into the box, and Nacho is able to win the first header. Courtois eases the pressure on his defenders by racing off his line to claim in a crowd of players.
53'
Javi Sánchez gets yellow.
Sanchez brings down Maxi Gomez on the charge and goes into the book. Celta have a free-kick 30 yards from goal.
52'
Vazquez looks for the run of Bale in the box, but the ball skips away from the Welshman and into the hands of Alvarez.
50'
Benzema finds space for a strike and he unleashes his effort at goal, only to see his effort strike the bar and bounce to safety.
49'
WIDE! Mendez raids down the right flank and whips a cross to the back post for the head of Aspas. He's unmarked, but the forward fails to hit the target with his header.
47'
Aspas attempts to get the better of Odriozola and goes down in a heap. He looks to the referee for a free-kick, but his appeal is turned down.
46'
We're back underway at Balaidos.
45' +3
HALF-TIME: CELTA VIGO 0-1 REAL MADRID
45' +1
Javi Sánchez enters the game and replaces Sergio Reguilón.
Madrid are forced into their second change as Reguilon is withdrawn for Javi Sanchez.
45'
There will be three minutes of added time.
44'
David Juncà gets yellow.
Junca goes into the book for bringing down Odriozola on the charge.
41'
Hugo Mallo gets yellow.
Bale gets taken out from behind by Mallo. The Welshman gets caught on the ankle and requires treatment.
Mallo is booked for his challenge on Bale.
40'
G. Cabral gets yellow.
Cabral goes into the book for a challenge on Benzema.
39'
Celta are trying to move the ball, but Madrid are restricting their access into the final third. It has been a disciplined effort at the back by the visitors since taking the lead.
37'
Sergio Reguilón gets yellow.
Madrid could be out of sight in this contest. It will give Celta belief that they could get back into the game if they're able to find their rhythn going forward.
Reguilon slides in on Mendez, catching the winger late, and goes into the book.
35'
MISS! Kroos has to score! Vazquez releases Benzema into the right inside channel and he fires a low ball across the face of goal. It evades Bale's outstretched leg, but travels straight towards Kroos. The German has an open goal to aim for, only to blast his effort over the bar.
33'
OVER! Reguilon beats his man on the flank and whips a dangerous ball towards the back post. Alvarez fails to make contact with his punch as Benzema rises at the back post, but the forward can only direct his header over the bar.
31'
Reguilon offers an outlet to attack down the left flank. He supplies a decent cross into the middle and only a watchful header from Roncaglia directs the ball away from Benzema.
29'
The Madrid corner leads to a break for the home side. Aspas and Maxi Gomez combine with the latter firing a low cross into the box. It's deflected out as far as Beltran, who goes for a strike, but he sees his effort blocked by Nacho.
28'
Odriozola has room again down the right flank and this time he wins a corner off the legs of Junca.
27'
Madrid probe down the right as Odriozola and Vazquez combine in the final third, but the latter cannot lift a cross into the box from a tight angle.
25'
Ramos brings down Aspas in the final third, but the home side are unable to make the most of the resulting free-kick. Celta need a spark from somewhere.
23'
K. Benzema has scored a goal for Real Madrid! Assist by L. Modrić.
GOALLLLLLLLLL!! BENZEMA STRIKES!!! MADRID 1-0!! The visitors take the lead as the Frenchman displays his predatory instincts. Modric threads the needle with a precise ball over the top for the run of the forward in behind the Celta defensive line. Benzema holds his composure to slot the ball past Alvarez into the net.
Modric clips a delightful pass over the top of the Celta back four for Benzema to collect and score.
21'
Reguilon raids down the left and has space to send a cross into the box. Cabral clears as far as Modric 20 yards from goal. He goes for the strike, but sends his effort wide of the target.
19'
Dani Ceballos enters the game and replaces Casemiro.
Casemiro has not recovered from the knock he sustained earlier in the game. Ceballos replaces him in the midfield.
OFF THE POST! Yokuslu comes within inches of putting the home side ahead. He rises to head Mendez's corner at goal and connects with his header. It bounces towards the net, only to hit the inside of the post. The ball bounces to safety before Madrid scramble it behind for another Celta corner.
18'
Celta work space on the right flank for Aspas to strike at goal, but his effort is deflected wide of the target by Reguilon.
16'
Celta are starting to get their foot on the ball and manoeuvring it around the half-way line, but the pressing from the visitors is keeping them at a comfortable distance.
14'
Both teams are trying to establish a possession game. Madrid are having the most success at the moment.
12'
Madrid continue to work shooting opportunities at the Celta goal. Kroos lines up a strike from distance, but he places his effort over the bar.
11'
OVER! Madrid work the ball well across the field and Vazquez has time to lift a cross into the box, but Bale can only guide his headed effort over the bar.
10'
Junca tries to lift a ball over the top towards Maxi Gomez, but the forward moves a fraction too soon and is caught offside.
8'
Casemiro goes down under the challenge of Maxi Gomez in the midfield. The Brazilian requires treatment on the field.
7'
It has been an open start to the game as both teams have been presented with excellent chances.
1'
We're underway at Balaidos.
Good evening and welcome to the live commentary of the LaLiga clash between Celta Vigo and Real Madrid at Balaidos.
Celta Vigo have been struggling of late, failing to win any of their last nine matches in all competitions. They played out a thrilling 3-3 draw against Real Betis last week where they did hold a one-goal advantage, only to concede a late equalsier to Canales three minutes from time. They need a performance to stop their slide towards the relegation zone.
CELTA VIGO (4-4-2): Sergio Alvarez; Hugo Mallo; Facundo Roncaglia, Gustavo Cabral, David Junca; Brais Mendez, Fran Beltran, Okay Yokuslu, Sofiane Boufal; Iago Aspas, Maxi Gomez.
SUBS: Nestor Araujo, Emre Mor, Ruben Blanco, Andrew Hjulsager, Kevin Vazquez, Jozabed Sanchez, Junior Alonso.
REAL MADRID (4-3-3): Thibaut Courtois; Alvaro Odirozola, Nacho Fernandez, Sergio Ramos, Sergio Reguilon; Toni Kroos, Casemiro, Luka Modric; Lucas Vazquez, Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale.
Real Madrid have a huge opportunity on their hands to close the gap on Barcelona at the top of the table after the Catalan club's surprise defeat at the hands of Real Betis. Madrid put on a clinic during the week against Viktoria Plzen, scoring six goals on the road in their Champions League clash to find their form in front of the net. Santiago Solari has won all three of his matches in charge of Los Blancos and will look to make it four in a row today.
The team are out on the pitch so we should be underway shortly.
The first half comes to an end at Balaidos with Real Madrid holding a 1-0 lead over Celta Vigo. Karim Benzema's strike is the difference between the two sides, although the game should have more goals. Okay Yokuslu hit the post for the home side before the Frenchman put Madrid ahead, while Toni Kroos missed an open goal for the visitors to deny them a 2-0 advantage.
It has been a chippy affair with four players already in the book. Casemiro and Sergio Reguilon have been forced off for the visitors, which will restrict Santiago Solari's options in the second half. Celta have played decent football at times, but have lacked consistency in their play.
Madrid are next in action after the international break on the road against Eibar, while Celta play Real Sociedad at the Anoeta.
Thanks for joining our commentary this evening. Until next time, goodbye.
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