Player Ratings: Celta Vigo 1-4 Real Madrid – 2022/23

Real Madrid began the post-Casemiro era with an excellent 4-1 win away to Celta Vigo on Saturday evening.

Karim Benzema opened the scoring from the spot after a handball from Renato Tapia. Real Madrid grew in confidence after the goal but it was Celta who scored next.

Eder Militao was caught handling the ball inside the 18-yard box and Iago Aspas made no mistake from the spot to draw Celta level. Los Blancos found it hard to get control of the game up until a moment of magic from Luka Modric.

Just before half-time, the Croatian curled a brilliant strike into the top corner to give his side the lead at the break. After the break it was another piece of Modric magic that allowed Ancelotti’s men to extend their lead. The Croatian played a brilliant through ball which Vinicius latched on to, rounded the keeper, and slotted into an empty net to make it 3-1.

Real Madrid scored a fourth not long after. Vinicius played a pass into the path of Federico Valverde, who got onto the loose ball and side-footed the ball into the bottom left-corner of the net.

Karim Benzema won a penalty late on after a brilliant run from Rüdiger, with the Frenchman unselfishly allowing Hazard to take the spot kick. The Belgian’s penalty was saved by Agustin Marchesin diving down to his left.

The win sees Los Blancos maintain their 100 percent start to the LaLiga season and demonstrates just how much quality there is in this squad.

Player ratings:

Starting XI:

Thibaut Courtois: 7/10

Guessed the right way for Aspas’ penalty but couldn’t quite get a hand to the ball. Other than that one moment, Courtois was pretty much a spectator.

Dani Carvajal: 7/10

Back after missing the game against Almeria as a precaution. The Spaniard didn’t have the easiest of games up against Galan and looked like he struggled at times.

Eder Militao: 6/10

Gave away a needless penalty in the first-half after handling the ball in the 18-yard box. The Brazilian did make a number of good recoveries after that but he remains prone to errors every now and again.

David Alaba: 7/10

Solid performance from Alaba. The Austrian was barely threatened in defence and showed his superb quality on the ball yet again. Grabbed an assist for Modric’s stunner.

Ferland Mendy: 7/10

Fede Valverde: 7.5/10

Karim Benzema: 7.5/10

Vinicius Jr: 8/10

Substitutions:

Antonio Rüdiger: 7/10 – Came on to replace Carvajal. The German made a fantastic run down the right wing which was what resulted in the penalty which Hazard missed.

Lucas Vázquez: N/A – Came on to replace David Alaba late on.

Dani Ceballos: N/A – Came on to replace Luka Modric late on.

Marco Asensio: N/A – Came on to replace Camavinga late on.

Eden Hazard: N/A – Came on to replace Vinicius and missed a penalty.