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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport

Celta 2 Real Madrid 4: Solari leads Los Blancos to another win despite injury woe at Balaídos

Real Madrid have continued their winning form under Santiago Solari with a Karim Benzema brace helping see off Celta Vigo.

Benzema struck either side of half-time at Balaídos before a sublime volley from Hugo Mallo halved their lead.

Some woeful defending from the home side saw Real awarded the chance to wrap up three points from the penalty spot after Alvaro Odriozola was fouled in the box.

Sergio Ramos stepped up to once again coolly convert from 12 yards before Dani Ceballos added another minutes before the full time whistle with a superb effort from range.

(Getty Images)

Solari’s efforts to seal a fourth straight win since taking over at the Bernabeu were undermined by a string of injuries during the match that forced all three of his permitted substitutes.

Casemiro was the first casualty early on the first-half with Sergio Reguilón following him off in the second after appearing to pull a hamstring.

Nacho joined them after picking up a knee injury, forcing Solari into a reshape that at one point looked like it might feature Gareth Bale playing at left-back for the first time in nearly a decade.

Bale himself however looked to be struggling with a knock, with Real’s VAR-approved penalty helping ease some of the growing strain on his side.

Ramos once again beat the goalkeeper from the spot, again using a Panenka to beat the goalkeeper – just as he did last week against Valladolid.

Brais Méndez pulled another one back for the hosts late on after Ceballos’ fine effort.

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