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LaLiga Report: Real Madrid v Celta Vigo 16 February 2020

LaLiga Report: Real Madrid v Celta Vigo 16 February 2020

LaLiga

Result: Real Madrid 2-2 Celta Vigo

Date: 16 February 2020

Venue: Santiago Bernabeu

Eden Hazard made his long-awaited return to action as Real Madrid dropped points against Celta Vigo at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday night.

Hazard made his first appearance since November 2019 while Toni Kroos and Marcelo were also re-called to the Los Blancos set up.

Madrid got off to a bad start though, as Fedor Smolov gave Celta a surprise lead in the seventh minute after beating the offside trap to slot into the bottom corner.

Zidane's charges dominated thereafter but  were struggled to create clear openings as Karim Benzema cut a frustrated figure upfront.

The hosts did close to snatching the equaliser five minutes before the break after Hazard sent a cross into box, but Gareth Bale's first-time strike sailed while Thibaut Courtois produced a fine save to deny Joseph Aidoo at the other end moments later.

Los Blancos thought they had levelled matters four minutes after the break when Sergio Ramos finished off Bale's cross at the far post but the celebrations were cut short as the Spanish defender was flagged offside.

However, Zidane's men eventually found the equaliser three minutes later thanks to a well placed strike into the bottom corner by Kroos after being picked out by Marcelo.

The hosts were then awarded a penalty in the 65th minute after Celta goalkeeper Ruben Blanco brought down Hazard inside the box, which allowed Ramos to step up and fire Los Blancos ahead.

Zidane opted to re-shuffle his stall with 20 minutes remaining and introduced Vinicius Junior for Hazard while Luka Modric came on for Kroos to stabilise the midfield 10 minutes later.

However, Oscar Garcia's got the equaliser in the 85th minute, with Santiago Mina latching onto Denis Suarez's through ball before calmly slotting past Courtois.

Karim Benzema nearly punished the visitors in stoppage time after latching on a cut-back inside the box but his powerful strike was kept out by Blanco as Celta held on for a point.

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