Real Madrid v Celta de Vigo Live Commentary & Result, 12/09/2021, Primera División

20′ If Madrid keep up this pressure then you’d think a goal would be inevitable. Vinicius has been at the heart of their positive play since going behind.  

18′ Hazard dances into the box and rifles a low effort straight at Dituro.

16′ It’s been all Madrid since that early goal and Celta will need to tighten up if they’re to hold onto their lead.

14′ Benzema wriggles to the byline and cuts it back to Valverde who blasts a 12-yard strike well over.

12′ Well, this has been an ideal start for Celta! Coming off a fragile start to the season, they’ve started with intent and have taken a precious lead to defend.

10′ Close! Vinicius darts inside from the left and glides into the box, before firing a vicious shot that flicks of Araujo and just over the bar!

8′ Vinicius swings in another dangerous cross, but two Celta defenders converge to nudge it anxiously into the arms of Dituro.

6′ Chance! Madrid are presented with an immediate opportunity to reply with a free-kick near the touchline. Vinicius rises to glance Hazard’s delivery towards goal but Dituro is well placed to tip it over!    

4′ That was a crisp, selfless pass from Aspas. After winning possession right on the edge of the box, Aspas could easily have taken an excitable shot. But instead, he kept his composure and slipped Mina through on goal, allowing his strike partner to do the rest.      

Celta de Vigo

4′ MINA! 1-0 CELTA! The visitors take a surprising early lead. Mendez nudges it away from Valverde and Madrid fail to clear the loose ball. Aspas manages to pounce on it though, and he slips in Mina who confidently fired a low finish under Courtois from 10 yards!   

3′ Celta try and settle into the game with a long spell of possession.

1′ Real Madrid get the first half underway.

The players are emerging from the tunnel and take in the occasion as football returns to the Santiago Bernabeu after over 18 months away! 

For the visitors to stand a chance, they’ll need to show more threat in attack than they have in recent weeks. Despite attempting a total of 17 total shots (four vs Osasuna and 13 vs Athletic Club), Celta Vigo have failed to record a shot on target in their last two La Liga matches, the first time they failed in consecutive matches in the competition since at least 2003/04.

Celta Vigo make two changes: Aidoo drops out of defence for Murillo, while Nolito makes way for Cervi.

Madrid make three changes to the side that beat Real Betis 1-0 last time out. David Alaba drops out of the squad entirely; Gareth Bale misses out through injury; and Isco also makes way.

SUBS: Thiago Galhardo, Kevin Vazquez, Ruben Blanco, Miguel Baeza, Jose Manuel Fontan, Nolito, Okay Yokuslu, Fran Beltran, Joseph Aidoo, Augusto Solari.

CELTA VIGO (4-1-3-2): Matias Dituro; Hugo Mallo, Jeison Murillo, Nestor Araujo, Javi Galan; Renato Tapia; Brais Mendez, Denis Suarez, Franco Cervi; Iago Aspas, Santi Mina.

SUBS: Luis Lopez, Isco, Marcelo, Mariano, Lucas Vazquez, Jesus Vallejo, Marco Asensio, Antonio Blanco, Rodrygo, Eduardo Camavinga, Andriy Lunin.

REAL MADRID (4-3-3): Thibaut Courtois; Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, Nacho, Miguel Gutierrez; Casemiro, Luka Modric, Federico Valverde; Vinicius Junior, Karim Benzema, Eden Hazard.

On the other hand, Celta Vigo have struggled so far. They have just one point so far following defeats to Atletico and Athletic Bilbao – they’ll be hoping to stun Madrid today and kickstart their own season.

Hello and welcome to live commentary of this La Liga fixture between Real Madrid and Celta Vigo. The hosts enter this one on the back of a solid start to the season: they sit on seven points from three games and will be looking to make it 10 today.