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Real Madrid RMA
5
Benzema 23', 45', 86' (p),Vinicius Junior 54',Camavinga 71'
Celta CEL
2
Santi Mina 3',Franco Cervi 30'
Finished

Real Madrid 5-2 Celta Vigo summary: score, goals, highlights, LaLiga

Soccer Football - LaLiga - Real Madrid v Celta Vigo - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - September 12, 2021 Real Madrid's Karim Benzema celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Susana Vera

Real Madrid vs Celta Vigo

Madrid dug deep to come from behind twice and secured things in the second half with Benzema bagging the 2-2 on the night with a goal of huge psychological importance. Vini Jr and Camavinga wrapped things up with Benzema bagging his third of the night from the spot after Vinicius was tripped. Madrid go joint top and Celta still search their first win of the campaign. Not such a happy birthday for Celta manager Coudet. 

The 25,000 fans got their value for money with seven goals on an emotional night as supporters return to the Bernabeu for the first time since February 2020.

FT at the Bernabeu.... the whistle sounds .... Madrid joint top with 10 points

Militao almost makes it 6 but Dituro deprives the Brazilian.

Celta will face Cadiz at home in Balaidos.

Next up for Real Madrid in LaLiga is a trip to Mestalla to face high flying Valencia who are performing well under new boss Bordalas.

90

We'll have three minutes of time added on but Madrid set to secure 10 points from a possible 12 with the 3-3 draw against Levante the only blot on the copy book.

90

Final minute of the night... a 7 goal thriller here at the Bernabeu on the night that the iconic stadium opened its doors for the first time in 560 days.

Murillo off for Celta, Aidoo his replacement

Miguel swapped for Marcelo and Rodrygo takes the place of Vini Jr

Fine strike from Benzema with Dituro having no chance.

87

Benzema to take with the Frenchman on a hat-trick.... The No. 9 steps up and slots home .....Gooool

Vini Jr tripped in the box as Suarez clips the winger

84

Plenty of tired legs now on the pitch at the Bernabeu with many players coming back from international duty and more midweek action imminent with the start of the Champions League group stage next week.

81

Less than ten minutes remain at the Bernabeu with Asensio now on for Modric

Celta pressing now and looking for the goal that could get them back into the game. The visitors lacking the precision from the first half.

78

Beltran goes close but watches his half volley fizz over the bar

The Benzema goal just after the interval was key in breaking Coudet's men's resolve.

The result would keep Celta deep in the relegation zone with just one point from the 4 opening games.

75

Final 15' of the night at the Bernabeu and Madrid now looking odds on to secure maximum points.

Nolito through on goal and chips the ball past Courtois and over the bar. The Andalusian had a fine chance to bring Celta back into the game.

73

Great work from Modric to tear through the Celta rear guard and his shot is parried by Dituro and the teenager taps home the rebound. Great work from the veteran Croatian.

72

Camavinga scores on his debut!!!!!

As things stand, this scoreline would see Real Madrid go joint top of the table on 10 points with Valencia and At. Madrid....

Both Benzema and Vinicius on four goals a-piece in this 2021/22 LaLiga season.

67

Celta now somewhat void of ideas going forward with too many speculative balls looking for men in red and white.

Celta avoid going 4-2 behind with Dituro saving from Vinicius with his feet.

Hazard off with Camavinga on

Solari booked as Camavinga looks to be set to make his debut

Celta subs: off Mina and Cervi with Nolito and Thiago on

Celta now with more of the ball as Hugo Mallo fires a speculative ball into the Madrid box but Courtois is alert.

60

An hour gone and now Coudet need to shift his game plan as his side chase the game

Celta trail for the first time tonight and immediately look to reply with Courtois doing well to repel the danger.

The winger is carded for his goal celebration and Madrid take the lead for the first time tonight... fine assist too from Benzema and a cool finish from Vini Jr.

54

Gooooooool. Vinicius puts Real Madrid ahead with the Brazilian slotting home after a one-on-one with the keeper.

Mina strikes and Courtois saves. Good work from Celta with Solari getting involved in the game immediately.

Solari...another Argentine player in the Celta Vigo squad

Braise makes way for Solari (Celta Vigo)

50

The game slipping into that same pattern as we saw in the first 45'... Celta sit deep, Madrid dominate.

Celta build and not for the first time tonight, Brais Mendez gives the ball away and the move breaks down.

Benzema bags his fourth of the 2021/22 LaLiga season.

Fine assist from Miguel to find Benzema and his header leaves Dituro rooted to the spot

Gooooooool. Benzema again with the Fremchman on hand again to draw his side level.

Celta get us underway as Tapia makes way for Beltran at the interval.

The teams return to the pitch, the French teenager and Asensio were warming up on the Bernabeu pitch during the interval.

Will we see Camavinga tonight ? The teenager is on the bench for Real Madrid and Ancelotti may wait to the midweek trip to Milan to give the French player his first taste of first team football in a white shirt.

Zizou is back at the Bernabeu tonight with the former head coach watching on from a VIP box.

An interesting game unfolding at the Bernabeu with a Celta side sitting deep but looking threatening on the counter. An early goal from Santi Mina was cancelled out by French striker Benzema but a quick reply from Franco Cervi has the visitors ahead on the night. Madrid bossing things in terms of possession but Argentine stopper Dituro alert in the Celta goal.

The whistle sounds and it's the visitors from Galicia who head in ahead at the break

Celta break and Santi Mina free on the right side, sees a right footed shot deflected for a corner. Carvajal caught out of position. Celta causing all sorts of problems for the home side with these breaks.

Possession 66-34 (%) Real Madrid-Celta Vigo

Yellow card for Murillo as he clips Hazard, nasty challenge from the Colombian and a deserved card for the Celta player.

41

Less than five minutes remain at the Bernabéu and the game is beautifully poised. Madrid with all the initiative but Celta looking very dangerous in their few forays into the opposition half with Fausto Cervi, Mina and Aspas causing problems. 

Well worked free from the home side and Celta caught napping. The visitors saved by the linesman's flag

Benzema has the ball in the next but the flag is up and Casemiro appears to be inches offside

Back to the default game-plan .... Madrid on the ball constantly and Celta sitting deep again. Despite my reservations, one cannot argue with Coudet's organizational plan for his side with the 1-2 scoreline

Celta with maximum efficiency in front of goal tonight... Two shots and two goals from the Galacian side

Nacho carded too for a trip on Aspas in the build-up to the Celta goal.

Goooooooooool. Celta take the lead again as the Madrid defence switch off and Cervi puts the men from Vigo ahead.

Two efforts from Cervi with his first back heel efffort rebounding off the post.

possession
72.6
27.4
Yellow cards
0
0
red cards
0
0
fouls won
3
2
fouls committed
2
3
Contested balls where possession is lost
13
17
Ball recoveries
20
22
Offsides
1
0
Penalties
0
0
30

Half an hour gone at the Bernabéu with 1-1 on the scoreboard. Celta sitting deep (too deep I'd suggest) and Madrid in control.

27

Dituro has been Celta's salvation tonight and once again the former Universidad Catolica man dives well to save

27

Aspas streaks away and Casemiro times his intervention to perfection to put the striker off his stride

Valverde with the assist and the French striker drilling home with nothing Dituro could do about that striker. Benzema's third goal in LaLiga this season.

24

Goooooool. Benzema draws level with the goal very much on the cards

21

Dituro once again to Celta's rescue with the keeper using his head to avert the danger.

20

Brais and Aspas combine and Celta secure a corner in a rare venture forward for the Galician side.

fans

Fans at the Bernabeu ahead of tonight's game

18

Celta are really sitting deep, 87 minutes is a long, long time at the Bernabeu to sit this deep and try and protect a 0-1 lead.

15

Hazard now strikes but once again the veteran Celta keeper was alert and gathers. Matias Dituro very much the man of the moment for Celta.

14

Benzema pulls the ball back from the by-line and Casemiro arches his back and drives the ball over the bar. Celta unable to get the ball into the Madrid half as Ancelotti's men dominate possession.

12

Vinicius looking highly motivated tonight with the Brazilian winger at the heart of all the home sides build up play on the left hand side.

11

Celta now pressed deep inside their own half as Madrid look to bounce back from the early setback.

10

A shake of the head from Ancelotti as Vinicius once again goes close with his right footed deflected over the bar.

8

Dituro on hand again to save as the ball rebounds towards the Celta goal but the Argentine was alert to the danger.

7

Vinicius goes close with a fine header on target and a superb reflex save from Dituro saves the visitors.

Poor play defensively from Madrid with the rear-guard giving the ball away cheaply and the Celta No. 22 was alert and slides the ball home past the Belgian keeper.

Gooooooool . Celta striker Santi Mina puts the Galician side ahead.

The fact that the lower tier is out of action is deceptive in suggesting fans are indeed present with the noise being generated from the supporters more than welcome.

1

Courtois called into action in the first minute with the Belgain stopper alert to snatch a Celta delivery into the box.

So, 560 days later, Real Madrid are back at their home ground with 25,000 fans present to watch the action.

All set in the Bernabéu. The home side to get us underway.

A quick reminder of the teams for tonight's game should you be joining us late.

We'll have a minute of silence ahead of the game as a tribute to those who have passed away during the covid pandemic.

The teams take to the pitch... Real Madrid in their classic all white, Celta with a Feyenoord Rotterdam style red and white half and half shirt and red shorts.

Celta

Celta home shirt voted as best in LaLiga

The home Celta Vigo (sky blue) shirt was voted as the 'nicest in LaLiga 21/22' by an online poll conducted by the league administrators.

Celta

Celta home shirt voted as best in LaLiga

The home Celta Vigo (sky blue) shirt was voted as the 'nicest in LaLiga 21/22' by an online poll conducted by the league administrators.

Board room tension between Real Madrid and Celta

A series of incidents over Madrid 'signing' younger players has seen a degree of tension emerge between both clubs with Celta president Mourinho not sitting with Florentino Perez in the director's box tonight.

Bernabeu

Fans reaction to the 'new' Bernabéu

It's like being at the old Bernabéu claim the bulk of Real Madrid fans attending tonight's game despite a series of cranes and massive amount of construction material. The bulk of the building work is centred on the exterior of the iconic ground.

Iago Aspas

Celta's Iago Aspas warms up on the Bernabéu pitch as kick-off looms

Match-day weather

It's a warm September evening in the Spanish capital with a temperature of 28C/82F expected at kick-off. No rain forceast in Madrid tonight.

Ref

Man in the middle

José María Sánchez Martínez is tonight's match official with the Murcian born match official celebrating his sixth season officiating at the top level of the Spanish game.

tebas

Florentino Peréz is 'psychologically kidnapping' Barça'

There were come interesting comments from the president of LaLiga, Javier Tebas on the presidential relationship between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona.

Full story

The corresponding fixture last season ended with a 2-0 win for Real Madrid but Celta did manage to claim a point on their trip to the capital in January 2020 with the game ending in a 2-2 draw.

BB

With kick-off just 45 minutes away, we can see how there is no ground level tier tonight at the stadium. 

Carlo

Ancelotti on the return of fans

Return of fans to Bernabéu: "It is a very special day for all Madridistas, also for us because we return to our stadium. It is a stadium that has always helped the team, it is a very special day and we have to close it with a good game. First get the three points, that is the number one objective. We have to play well, put on a good show and, most importantly, get all three points.”

Celta Vigo XI confirmed:

The Real Madrid XI is out. Camavinga starts on the bench as anticipated.

Bernabeu

Return of fans

Tonight's game at the Bernabéu also marks the first time that Real Madrid will play in front of their fans since the start of the covid pandemic. Covid restrictions and ongoing renovation work on the stadium mean that 25,000 spectators will be in attendance in Chamartin tonight.

El "Chacho" celebrates his 47th birthday

The Argentine will be hoping for a happy birthday with a win against Real Madrid this evening.

Celta's poor start contrasts with that of Real Madrid with Ancelotti's men bagging seven points from ten with eight goals scored in the three games.

Celta have yet to record a win in this 2021/22 campaign with two narrow draws and a 0-0 draw with Osasuna for Coudet's men.

Bale

No Bale for Celta game

Gareth Bale suffered an injury to his right hamstring at Saturday's training session and will be unavailable for Real Madrid's meeting with Celta Vigo at the Bernabéu on Sunday.

Full story

Kick-off tonight in the Spanish capital is at 21:00 CEST-15:00 ET.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage as Real Madrid return to the Santiago Bernabéu for the first time since February 2020 (560 days) as Ancelotti's men welcome Celta Vigo.