Vigo (AP) – Two penalty goals by Karim Benzema saved Real Madrid from losing the next point in the Spanish Primera División.
After the memorable 4-0 debacle in the Clasico against FC Barcelona before the international break, the royal team won 2-1 (1-0) at Celta Vigo without their head coach Carlo Ancelotti, who was absent due to corona. Real leads the table with 69 points and is still on the way to the 14th championship.
The 21st win of the season was marked by French national soccer player Karim Benzema, who scored a penalty kick in the 19th and 70th minutes. In the 64th minute, the 34-year-old striker failed with another foul penalty, otherwise he would have scored his 25th goal of the season, making it 24 in 26 games. Nolito had scored the equalizer for the hosts in the 53rd minute.
Kroos and Alaba in the starting XI
The hosts did not hide from the favorites, with ex-world champion Toni Kroos and former Bayern professional David Alaba in the starting XI. But Real keeper Thibaut Courtois was there several times with strong saves. When Nolito unnecessarily brought down Eder Militao in the penalty area, Benzema didn’t miss the chance to take the lead. The referee did not recognize a possible equalization by Vigo after the video referee had been deployed.
But after the break, Nolito made up for his mistake by getting in the right spot after Javi Galan’s cross and putting the ball into the left corner against Courtois’ direction. In the 64th minute, Matias Dituro saved Benzema’s second penalty. But that didn’t stop the Frenchman from starting again five minutes later. And this time he had no problems. After that, the resistance of the bravely fighting hosts seemed broken.