Real Madrid won a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Celta Vigo on Saturday, extending their LaLiga lead to 12 points thanks to two penalties from Karim Benzema.
Madrid’s success was largely due to the fact that they were awarded three penalty kicks at Estadio de Balaidos, with Benzema missing one but converting the other two.
Early in the second half, Nolito equalized Benzema’s first penalty, and the hosts pushed for a win, only to be undone at the other end.
Celta Vigo were enraged by the referee’s decision, particularly the third spot-kick awarded just minutes after France international Benzema had seen one saved by Matias Dituro, but Madrid assistant manager Davide Ancelotti was unconcerned as he watched his father’s team return to winning ways in the league after their Clasico humiliation last time out.
When Nolito clipped Eder Militao’s ankle in the 18th minute, Madrid got their first penalty, which Benzema neatly rolled to Dituro’s left.
Despite the penalty, the hosts had made a bright start, and Iago Aspas nearly equalized with a free-kick, but Thibaut Courtois made a fantastic save diving to his right to deny the former Liverpool man.
Celta Vigo thought they had equalized when Thiago Galhardo’s header hit the inside of the post and drifted into the far corner of the net, but Aspas was adjudged to be offside as well as having prevented David Alaba from clearing the ball off the line.
Early in the second half, Nolito made up for the penalty conceded by sweeping in a cross from the left by Javi Galan.
After Rodrygo was brought down by Jeison Murillio soon after the hour, Madrid had another chance from the penalty spot, but Dituro made the save to deny Benzema down to his right.
However, the goalkeeper could do nothing about Benzema’s third penalty of the game, which he scored after Ferland Mendy went over Kevin Vazquez’s trailing foot.
Source: livescore news
