La Liga: An unexpected slip-up for Real Madrid; Real Madrid 2 - 2 Celta Vigo

Celta strike late to earn point at the Bernabeu

La Liga: An unexpected slip-up for Real Madrid; Real Madrid 2 - 2 Celta Vigo
Sergio Ramos scores from the spot

Real Madrid's grasp on top spot in the LaLiga table grew a bit weaker on Sunday night as a late Santi Mina strike earned Celta Vigo a 2-2 draw with Los Blancos at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.

The visitors from Galicia jumped out to an early 0-1 lead and held that until half-time, however a second-half surge pushed Real Madrid into the lead on a strike from Toni Kroos and a Sergio Ramos penalty. But the home side failed to kill off the game and Celta made Real Madrid pay, as Santi Mina scored in the waning minutes to bring Barcelona to within a point of Real Madrid in the table.

The night's starting XI for head coach Zinedine Zidane was marked by the return of Eden Hazard, but also of note were the inclusions of Gareth Bale and Marcelo to the Frenchman's line-up.

Celta were first to strike, landing a big punch right in Real Madrid's mouth in the early minutes to grab a shock 0-1 lead. The genesis of the goal came off the foot of Iago Aspas, who threaded a perfect pass into Fedor Smolov and he then found a generous amount of space between Raphael Varane and Dani Carvajal before finishing with aplomb past Real Marid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois for the goal.

Real Madrid responded in expected fashion, with dominance in possession and a bevy of chances through big blasts from Casemiro and Bale, plus a deep Marcelo cross intended for Karim Benzema and a second Bale effort, but there was no way past Celta shot-stopper Ruben Blanco.

Courtois had to stay on his toes though, as Celta nearly snuck in a second right before half-time through an Joseph Aidoo header off a corner kick.

 

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Zidane's team talk at half-time was apparently just the thing Real Madird needed to fine-tune their attack and they pulled level in short order when a cut-back pass from Marcelo met the swinging foot of Kroos, who left Ruben Blanco no chance and evened the score, 1-1.

The Galicians were barely able to hold onto the ball for more than three passes, as Los Blancos converged and dispossessed almost at will. The pressure from Real Madrid was unyielding and it finally led to a go-ahead score for Real Madrid when Ruben Blanco foolishly took down Hazard in the area and Ramos hammered in the spot kick for a 2-1 advantage.

Zidane didn't want to leave anything to chance and brought on fresh legs, with Vinicius Junior replacing the recently returned Hazard, followed by Kroos making way for Luka Modric and Mendy on for Bale.

But despite all of Real Madrid's dominance, it was still just a one-goal contest going into the final 10 minutes and Celta, in a rare foray into the final third, put Real Madrid to the sword when substitutes Denis Suarez and Santi Mina linked up, allowing the latter to get the better of Courtois to give Celta the 2-2 result.