Jude Bellingham scored his fourth goal in three games to lead Real Madrid to a 1-0 win over Celta Vigo on Friday night.
LaLiga
Result: Celta Vigo 0-1 Real Madrid
Date: 25 August 2023
Venue: Abanca-Balaídos
Los Blancos coach Carlo Ancelotti handed a debut to goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga while Eduardo Camavinga returned to the side in place of veteran midfielder Toni Kroos.
The home side had the ball in the back of the net after five minutes when Jorgen Strand Larsen turned home a loose shot in the box. However, celebrations were cut short as the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) ruled the goal out for offside.
However, Ancelotti was forced to make a change 18 minutes into the contest after talisman Vinicius Junior picked up an apparent hamstring injury and was replaced by Joselu.
Celta nearly went ahead on 30 minutes when Jonathan Bamba did well to shrug off Antonio Rudiger before picking out Iago Aspas, whose cross to the far post found Oscar Mingueza but the defender could only head wide of the target.
Madrid thought they had found the breakthrough in the final five minutes when Joselu calmly slotted past Ivan Villar, but the striker was deemed to have been offside.
After a frustrating first half, Ancelotti threw on Kroos and Luka Modric in the second stanza, with French duo Camavinga and Aurélien Tchouaméni making way in the process.
The visitors were awarded a penalty on 66 minutes when when Villar brought down Rodrygo in the box. The Celta goalkeeper, however, redeemed himself by saving the Brazilian's resultant spot-kick.
Los Blancos would go on to break the deadlock with nine minutes to play, as Bellingham scored for the third straight game this season with a close-range finish after some good work by Joselu to set up his midfielder.
The goal also see Bellingham become the first player since Cristiano Ronaldo to score in his first three games for Los Blancos.
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