adminMADRID. — Real Madrid shrugged off the absence of the injured Cristiano Ronaldo to extend their perfect start to the season with a 2-1 win over Celta Vigo on Saturday thanks to Toni Kroos’ late winner.
The European soccer champions now lead their opponents in May’s Champions League final by four points after just two games as Atletico Madrid were held 0-0 at newly promoted Leganes.
Alvaro Morata looked to have Real on their way to another three points when he eventually broke Celta’s resistence by smashing home on the hour mark.
Fabian Orellana curled home a spectacular equaliser 24 minutes from time, but Kroos’s sublime low strike in off the inside of the post secured all three points for the hosts 10 minutes from time.
“We played so-so today,” said Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane. I am left with the fact the players believed until the end and we achieved what we wanted.”
Ronaldo was still sidelined by the knee ligament injury that forced him off during Portugal’s Euro 2016 final victory over France.
In his absence, Gareth Bale was expected to lead Real to another comfortable win after continuing his sensational form with Wales at the Euros with two goals in a 3-0 victory at Real Sociedad last weekend.
However, Bale endured a frustrating night and it was another former Tottenham Hotspur star in Luka Modric who shone in a tight first half with two long-range efforts that forced Sergio Alvarez into fine saves, while a third effort from the Croatian came back off the bar. — AFP.
Online Reporter