Real Madrid won but they definitely weren’t at their best as relegation threatened Celta Vigo gave them everything they could handle, but were ultimately undone by a dubious penalty.
Madrid gets a tough victory over Celta Vigo
Denis DoyleConsidering everything that Real Madrid has been through over the past couple weeks I suppose a bit of a let down was allowed. Celta Vigo clearly came into the match with a solid plan and took the game to Madrid for the opening 30 minutes. The only problem of course is that they didn’t score and the longer you let a talented side like Madrid settle in and remain in the game, the greater the chance that they’ll finally score and beat you.
Madrid should have broke through in the 40th minute when Benzema found José Callejón on the right side of the Celta area with not a defender in sight. Credit goes to Varas for closing down on Callejón and blocking the shot away for a corner.
Read Article >Madrid look to avoid tripping up against Celta
Denis DoyleReal Madrid are flying high after two straight wins over Barcelona and a Champions League Round of 16 triumph over Manchester United. There’s not much that Los Blancos have done wrong over the past couple weeks but if there was ever a situation better set-up for a potential letdown, it’s this match.
Celta Vigo are no match for Madrid, at least on paper, but there have been several teams this season that have tripped up Madrid despite having no business doing so.
Read Article >Barcelona have a nice stroll through the park
David RamosDepor never managed to get a shot on target during a generally uneventful second half. Things got a bit more interesting when Messi entered the game, though he didn’t truly make his mark until he scored in the 88th minute at the end of a quintessential Barcelona move. He played an exchange with Andres Iniesta on the left side of the pitch before carrying the ball across the box by himself and laying the ball off for Sanchez. He played a quick return ball and Messi was in the perfect position to play a delicate chip over Masip to seal the victory for his team.
Read Article >Nearly everyone under pressure in La Liga
Jasper JuinenTeams in La Liga have only 12 league matches left this season. While the title is nearly wrapped up, there’s still lot to play for with European spots still up for grabs and plenty to be decided at the bottom of the table. Here’s a look at all this week’s action from Spain.
(21:30 CET, 3:30 p.m. ET)
Read Article >
