Toni Kroos scores winner as Real Madrid edge out Celta Vigo

27 August 2016 08:53

Real Madrid made it two wins out of two in LaLiga on Saturday, but were made to work hard to claim all three points against Celta Vigo at the Bernabeu.

Zinedine Zidane's side needed almost an hour to open the scoring through Alvaro Morata, but quickly conceded an equaliser courtesy of Fabian Orellana's superb finish.

Gareth Bale then missed a great chance to head Real back in front before Toni Kroos swept in what proved to be the winner, although the lukewarm reaction from the crowd at the final whistle told its own story.

Luka Modric came closest to breaking the deadlock in the opening period for a home side deprived of the services of Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who has not played since being substituted in the Euro 2016 final against France in July.

Former Tottenham midfielder Modric picked up the ball just inside the opposition's half on 29 minutes and was allowed to advance to the edge of the area, where he unleashed a dipping drive which crashed into the bar.

And just three minutes later Modric again tried his luck from long range, this time bringing a good save from goalkeeper Sergio Alvarez, with Bale heading wide from the resulting corner.

Bale did get his next effort on target with an optimistic effort from distance, but Alvarez had no trouble getting down to gather the ball at the foot of the post.

Alvarez had a far harder time coping with a trademark Bale free-kick 10 minutes after the interval, the 30-year-old at full stretch to tip over the Welshman's effort with the aid of the bar.

But there was not much he could do to prevent the home side finally taking the lead after 59 minutes after he was left exposed by some slack defending from his team-mates.

Marco Asensio was left unmarked in acres of space in the area and although his weak shot was saved by Alvarez, Morata - who looked suspiciously offside in the build-up - was on hand to sweep the ball home.

Morata came agonisingly close to making it 2-0 when he was played through by Kroos and flicked the ball beyond Alvarez with the outside of his right foot, only to watch the ball come back off the base of the post.

And that looked like proving costly when the visitors got back on level terms in superb style, John Guidetti picking out Orellana on the edge of the area for the midfielder to curl a fine shot beyond the despairing dive of Francisco Casilla.

The home fans could have been forgiven for thinking it was not going to be their night when Bale then headed straight at Alvarez after being picked out in the centre of the box by Lucas Vazquez.

But just a minute later Vazquez was again the provider to set up Kroos for what proved to be the winner, the German international calmly sidefooting home from 20 yards via the inside of the post.

Source: PA