Celta 2-4 Real Madrid: Benzema shines to inspire injury-hit Madrid to victory

Karim Benzema scored one and created another as Real Madrid eased to a 4-2 win over Celta but Solari's side lost Nacho, Casemiro and Reguilon to injuries.

Match Report

Interim boss Santiago Solari guided Real Madrid to a fourth consecutive win in all competitions on Sunday as they eased past Celta Vigo 4-2 in LaLiga.

The Argentine has steadied the ship following Julen Lopetegui's dismissal last month and will fancy his chances of landing the top job on a permanent basis with his 14-day temporary spell now at an end.

Karim Benzema was in inspired form for Los Blancos, scoring his side's first after 23 minutes with a composed finish and then forcing Gustavo Cabral into an unfortunate own goal 11 minutes into the second half.

Celta captain Hugo Mallo set up a tense final half-hour with a clinical volley, but Real – who lost Casemiro, Sergio Reguilon and Nacho to injury during the game – added late goals through Sergio Ramos' penalty and Dani Ceballos' long-range strike.

Cabral's miserable night was completed late on when he received a second yellow card in between those goals, while Brais Mendez scored a late consolation for the hosts.

23' GOAL! Celta 0-1 Real Madrid (Benzema)

The visitors take the lead as the Frenchman displays his predatory instincts. 

Modric threads the needle with a precise ball over the top for the run of the forward in behind the Celta defensive line. Benzema holds his composure to slot the ball past Alvarez into the net.

50' OFF THE BAR! Benzema almost scores

Benzema finds space for a strike and he unleashes his effort at goal, only to see his effort strike the bar and bounce to safety.

56' OWN GOAL! Celta 0-2 Real Madrid (Cabral)

Benzema gets the better of Roncaglia in the box, capitalising on a loose pass from the defender. He then turns Junca inside and out before drilling his effort through Alvarez. The ball strikes the post and then hits the covering Cabral on the line before finding the net.

61' GOAL! Celta 1-2 Real Madrid (Mallo)

Celta are back in the game through a fine effort from their captain. Aspas and Mendez combined on the right flank to set up the opportunity with the latter clipping a ball into the right inside channel. Mallo made the run and struck his effort first time on the volley, firing his strike low into the bottom corner.

83' PENALTY GOAL! Celta 1-3 Real Madrid (Ramos)

Ramos deploys the cheeky chip from the spot as he waits for Alvarez to commit himself. The Celta keeper dives to his left and Ramos lofts the ball down the middle, with just enough power to prevent Alvarez getting back to get a hand on it. Madrid surely have the three points secured now.

91' GOAL! Celta 1-4 Real Madrid (Ceballos)

Ceballos puts the icing on the cake for the visitors with a special strike from distance. He collects Ramos' offload before running at the Celta defence. The midfielder unleashes a powerful strike from 20 yards that soars into the top corner leaving Alvarez with no chance.

94' GOAL! Celta 2-4 Real Madrid (Mendez)

Celta get a late goal to improve the scoreline as Mendez's strike is deflected into the net. Aspas makes a driving run into the Madrid box before cutting a pass back to his team-mate. Mendez fires at goal and his effort hits the leg of Javi Sanchez, which wrong foots Courtois to find the back of the net.

Line-ups

Celta XI: Roncaglia, Cabral, Iago Aspas, Mallo, Okay Yokuslu, Juncà, Sergio Álvarez, S.Boufal, B.Méndez, M. Gómez, Fran Beltrán

Subs: Néstor Araújo, Jozabed, Kevin Vázquez, Rubén Blanco, Hjulsager, J.Alonso, Mor

Real Madrid XI: Sergio Ramos, L. Modrić, Benzema, Bale, T. Kroos, T. Courtois, Casemiro, Nacho, Lucas Vázquez, Álvaro Odriozola, Reguilón

Subs: K. Navas, Isco, Marco Asensio, Ceballos, Javi Sánchez, Valverde, Vinícius Júnior