Real Madrid beat Celta Vigo in wide open clash at Balaidos

Andy West 02:17 27/04/2015
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  • Hot form: Real striker Javier Hernandez.

    Real Madrid kept their title challenge alive with a somewhat fortuitous victory over Celta Vigo in a fast, frantic and hugely entertaining encounter at Balaidos last night.

    After his match-winning turn against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League Javier Hernandez netted twice with Toni Kroos and the outstanding James Rodriguez also scoring to overcome first half strikes from Celta forwards Nolito and Santi Mina.

    But the result could have been very different in a chaotic game which saw both teams look capable of scoring with practically every attack, and Celta will particularly rue being denied a seemingly clear-cut penalty when they trailed 3-2 early in the second half.

    In a sign of the incident-packed game to come, Celta raced into an early lead when Asier Illarramendi lost possession and Fabian Orellana counter-attacked at pace before finding Nolito, who easily cut inside from the left to roll a low shot past Iker Casillas.

    Los Blancos were soon level, however, with the in-form James sending a perfectly timed pass to Cristiano Ronaldo, who raced to the right byline before delivering a low cross which was deflected to the edge of the area, where the awaiting Kroos coolly finished into the top right corner.

    And the breathless pace continued as the visitors then went ahead, with James again performing a key role as he combined with Hernandez down the right to release the Mexican striker to finish with a crisp and low angled strike.

    Celta never looked daunted continuing to launch bold attacks against the ragged visiting defence. And it was no surprise when they levelled after 28 minutes as Orellana’s well weighted through-ball broke the offside trap and allowed Mina to race goalwards.

    Although the 19 year-old’s initial shot hit the post, the rebound fell kindly for him to easily convert from close range. With both side much better going forward than in defence, the chances flowed and Celta threatened when Nolito and Orellana combined to find Joaquin Larrivey for a low shot which was saved, before Ronaldo finished a swift counterattack by striking the post.

    And there was still time for another goal before the break, with Madrid re-taking the lead when Ronaldo was given plenty of space to pick out James, and the Colombian cut inside to fire a left-footed shot which took a huge deflection of Andreu Fontas and drifted inside the right corner.

    The same pattern continued early in the second half as Hugo Mallo and Mina fired half-chances wide and the ever-dangerous Orellana had a shot deflected wide.

    With Celta playing some scintillating attacking football, Madrid’s big let-off arrived as Kroos clearly appeared to foul Orellana from behind inside the area, but no penalty was awarded.

    Having survived by the skin of their teeth, Los Blancos gained a much-needed two goal cushion when Sergio Ramos played a wonderful pass over the top of the Celta defence into the stride of Hernandez, who controlled well with his first touch and finished confidently with his second.

    Carlo Ancelotti protected the two-goal cushion by switching to a five-man defence with the introduction of Pepe, and that move succeeded in largely blunting Celta’s attack as the visitors safely saw out the remaining time. 

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