LaLiga
Result: Celta Vigo 1-3 Real Madrid
Date: 17 August 2019
Venue: Balaídos
While FC Barcelona suffered defeat on Friday, ten-man Real Madrid began their LaLiga campaign with 3-1 victory away to Celta Vigo on Saturday evening.
Los Blancos were without big-money signing Eden Hazard through injury, although there was a place in the side for Gareth Bale who was reportedly on the brink leaving a couple weeks ago. Bale certainly made an early impact as he played a role in the opening goal on 12 minutes, picking out Karim Benzema for the close-range finish. Celta were by no means outplayed in the first half and they should have levelled matters on 30 minutes, but Real's Raphael Varane popped up with a superb block to deny Iago Aspas. The hosts thought they had found an equaliser on the stroke of halftime when Brais Mendez slotted home but after a check with the Video Assistant Referee, the goal was ruled out as Aspas was offside in the build-up. The tables turned in Celta's favour in the second half when Real were reduced to 10 men after Luka Modric was shown a straight red after VAR showed the midfield raking his studs down the heel of Denis Suarez. However, the numerical disadvantage had no effect on Real, who doubled their lead four minutes later as Toni Kroos found the back of the net with a superb strike distance that sailed in off the underside of the crossbar. Celta continued to push for a first goal, but it was Zinedine Zidane's men who got the next strike as Benzema turned provider to pick out Lucas Vazquez, who slotted home from close range. Celta did manage to bag a consolation in second-half stoppage time, with Iker Losada netting his first goal for the club powerful low strike that gave Thibaut Courtois no chance.
