Captain Karim Benzema saved Real Madrid from back-to-back La Liga defeats as Los Blancos clinched a 2-1 win away at Celta Vigo.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side headed off for the international break on the back of a 4-0 El Clasico humbling against Barcelona and the absent Italian coach was looking for a response in Galicia.
Celta looked bright in the opening stages, with former La Blaugrana midfielder Denis Suarez denied, before Benzema calmly rolled home from the spot.
However, the hosts posed the greater threat either side of the break, with Iago Aspas kept out, as veteran star Nolito deservedly swept them in front.
😍 The strike from @aspas10.
🧤 The save from @thibautcourtois.
👏 Fantastic football all round in #CeltaRealMadrid.
📺 Catch the second half LIVE on #LaLigaTV pic.twitter.com/5apBQ41hOi
— LaLigaTV (@LaLigaTV) April 2, 2022
Nolito taking a moment with the fans!#LaLigaFanCam | #CeltaRealMadrid pic.twitter.com/AxlomYgYe0
— LaLigaTV (@LaLigaTV) April 2, 2022
But the final stages were dominated by Benzema, as the Frenchman’s penalty was batted away by Matias Dituro just after the hour, before he stepped up again late on to convert his second spot kick.
🤯@Benzema this season:
🏟34 Games
⚽️34 Goals
🅰️13 Assists🏅Ballon d'Or pending? pic.twitter.com/H7ttOY0bKA
— SPORF (@Sporf) April 2, 2022
Up next for Ancelotti is a midweek Champions League trip to former side Chelsea with Celta heading to Espanyol next weekend.
Images via Getty Images
the referee was the 12th player for rEAL…what a miserable game. it seems to be a rigged game.
Yeah! 3rd call wasn’t a penalty. It was clearly a foul play from RM player. Not an acrobatic dive but a touch of hair and you roll on the pitch so easily is a disgrace for the game.
Celta were robbed of their 1 pt.