Real Madrid began their LaLiga title defense with a 4-1 victory over Celta Vigo, thanks to goals from Karim Benzema, Luka Modric, Vinicius Junior, and Federico Valverde.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side agreed to sell midfielder Casemiro to Manchester United on Friday, but they barely missed the Brazilian enforcer in a dominant performance against Eduardo Coudet’s men at Balaidos.
Benzema scored his first league goal of the season from the penalty spot, but Iago Aspas equalized with a penalty kick of his own midway through the first half.
With a wonderful strike shortly before halftime, Modric gave Madrid the lead again, while Vinicius and Valverde were on target in the second half as Los Blancos, who missed a late penalty through Eden Hazard, wrapped up maximum points with minimal fuss.
Madrid took the lead in the 14th minute on Benzema’s penalty after David Alaba’s shot hit the arm of Renato Tapia, the penalty awarded after a lengthy pitchside review by referee Jesus Gil Manzano.
Celta equalized in the 23rd minute with a penalty of their own, Aspas powerfully striking past Thibaut Courtois from 12 yards after Goncalo Paciencia’s header was blocked by Eder Militao’s arm.
However, three minutes before the break, Modric jinked his way to the edge of the area and whipped a sumptuous strike into Agustin Marchesin’s top-left corner, restoring Los Blancos’ lead.
Modric was also instrumental in Madrid’s third goal, threading a fine ball through for Vinicius, who rounded Marchesin and slotted into an empty net in the 56th minute.
Valverde added a fourth 10 minutes later with a clinical finish from 15 yards after a flowing counter-attacking move, before Hazard’s penalty was saved by Marchesin after Benzema was fouled by Hugo Mallo.
What does it imply? Madrid extends its lead over Celta.
Celta had failed to win any of their previous 16 LaLiga games against Real Madrid (D2 L14), and it was easy to see why as a dominant Madrid extended that streak to 17.
Despite the loss of Casemiro, Los Blancos appear to be in good shape for the 2022-23 season. For the first time since 2018-19 under Julen Lopetegui, they have won their first two LaLiga games of the season.
Modric is a mastermind.
Modric did not appear to suffer from Casemiro’s absence. The Croatia international restored Madrid’s lead with a stunning strike, his 18th from outside the penalty area for the club, before setting up Vinicius’ goal with a typically astute pass.
Benzema punishes Celta once more.
With his early penalty strike, Benzema has now been involved in 10 goals in his last four LaLiga games against Celta (eight goals and two assists), including two braces and one hat-trick. They’ll be relieved to see him go for at least a few months.
Important Opta Facts
- Madrid have won 14 of their last 16 LaLiga away games against Celta Vigo (D1 L1). – Balaidos is the venue where they have won the most away games in LaLiga in the twenty-first century (14).
– This is the first time in LaLiga history that Madrid has won both of their first two games away from home (1-2 vs Almeria and 1-4 vs Celta Vigo).
– This was only the fourth time in LaLiga that Modric had both scored and assisted. However, two of those were in 2022. (also one goal and one assist against Real Sociedad in March).
– For the first time since January 2015, Madrid scored and conceded a penalty goal in the same away LaLiga match, when they scored one and conceded another against Cordoba.
– Madrid’s last three LaLiga penalty goals have come against Celta Vigo at Balaidos, with Benzema scoring all three (also two on April 4). The last time Los Blancos scored three penalty goals against the same opponent in the competition was against Villarreal between September 2009 (one from Kaka) and February 2010. (one from Kaka and another from Xabi Alonso).
What comes next?
Celta will travel to Girona on Friday, while Madrid will travel to Espanyol two days later, their third away game of the season.