Goals from Mbappé and Vini Jr. secure victory in Balaídos
2 week(s)
Real Madrid beat Celta at Balaídos to pick up three important points as they returned to LaLiga action after the international break. Mbappé gave Ancelotti's side the lead after 20 minutes with a great right-footed shot from outside the area. Williot equalised in the 52nd minute, but our team reacted and made it 2-1 in the 66th minute after a beautiful assist from Modrić and a great one-on-one finish from Vini Jr. with only Guaita to beat.
The game started at a frenetic pace and Celta came close to making it 1-0 after eight minutes in a Williot one-on-one with Courtois, in which the Belgian was superb. The home side's clear chance prompted Ancelotti's men to react, and a minute later they could have scored when Valverde's shot from the edge of the area was blocked by Guaita. Real Madrid made no mistake midway through the first half. Camavinga won the ball back with some high pressure and the ball fell to Mbappé, who put the visitors ahead in the 20th minute with a powerful shot that the home keeper could do nothing about. It was the Frenchman's sixth goal of the season, his eighth in an official match.
Chances
Real Madrid could even have gone in at the break with a bigger lead if Vini Jr. had found the net with a header in the six-yard box from Valverde‘s cross in 39’ and, two minutes later, with a left-footed shot after a nice personal move, in which he completed a double cutback on Manquillo. Just after coming back from the changing rooms it was Bellingham who could have extended the gap with a shot that went just wide after receiving in midfield and driving powerfully into the box. And then came the equaliser just when it looked like our team's second goal was closer. It came from Williot in the 52nd minute.
Everything was level again with more than half an hour to go, but Madrid continued to create danger in their opponents' area. Mbappé collected a rebound inside the area in the 63rd minute and shot with his left foot. The ball crashed into the body of Manquillo, who threw himself full length to save the home side. The visitors' second goal did come three minutes later. A great assist from Modrić and a great finish from Vini Jr, who cut inside Guaita and slotted home. The game was back and forth and Courtois was again at his best in another one-on-one, this time with Bamba in the 69th minute. From then until the end, Ancelotti's side hardly conceded any chances to their opponents until Douvikas could have equalised on a counter-attack in stoppage time, but his shot inside the box failed to find the target. Our team picked up three important points in a demanding outing.