Real Madrid have been starting to re-find their form in recent weeks, as Santiago Solari edges closer to being named as the full-time manager of the team.

The match started in energetic fashion, with both teams looking assert their dominance in the opening moments.

A moment of immense quality broke the deadlock, as Luka Modric dinked an excellent ball over the top of the Celta to find Karim Benzema. The Frenchman managed to control the ball and turn towards goal, before side-footing it past Sergio to open the scoring.

The rest of the first half was a tale of poor discipline, with Casemiro and Sergio Reguilón having to be substituted due to poor challenges from Celta players injuring them, but the home side managed to remain in the tie until the break.

Karim Benzema hit the crossbar early in the first half, and then proved decisive in the second goal coming.The Frenchman weaved his way through the Celta defence and then saw his shot deflect on to the post and in to the path of Gustavo Cabral, the ball cannoning off him in to his own net.

Celta managed to get back in to things when Hugo Mallo got on to the end of a Brais Mendez ball and despatched a volley in to the bottom corner of the Real net.

With Celta seemingly getting closer to an equaliser, and Thibaut Courtois having to be at his best to keep his side in the game, Real managed to get a third goal in the 81st minute.

Alvaro Odriozola was judged to have been chopped down in the box, and Sergio Ramos stepped up to chip the resulting penalty in to the centre of the goal.

November 11, 2018

Things went form bad to to worse for Celta, as Cabral was shown red for a second bookable offence just before the end of normal time, and then 'Los Blancos' got their fourth shortly later.

Dani Ceballos made the most of the sapces opening up on the pitch, and set his sights on goal from 25 yards, the ball flying in to the top corner of the net.

Celta managed to get a consolation due to a scrappy Bris Mendez strike, but it was too late for a comeback to be staged.

The home side should be happy with their attacking threat in the game, and were both unlucky at certain times.

However, the attacking quality of Real Madrid was clear to see during the game, especially through Karim Benzema. This should be the result that bags Solari the full-time job at the club, but he will fell he will need to sure up his defence if he's in charge going forward.

November 11, 2018

G. Cabral

Achievements