Kroos to victory
REAL MADRID 2
(Alvaro Morata 60, Toni Kroos 82)
CELTA VIGO 1
(Fabian Orellana 66)
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 yesterday morning (Singapore time).
This time, they had to thank Toni Kroos for the late winner.
Alvaro Morata looked to have Real on their way to another three points when he eventually broke Celta's resistance by smashing home on the hour mark.
Fabian Orellana curled home a spectacular equaliser 24 minutes from time, but Kroos' sublime low strike in off the inside of the post secured all three points for the hosts eight minutes from time.
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 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 drew fine saves from Sergio Alvarez, while a third effort from the Croat came back off the bar.
Kroos then emerged as Real's hero as he brilliantly measured a side-footed effort in from 20 metres, to the relief of the Bernabeu. - AFP.
"We played so-so today. I am left with the fact the players believed until the end and we achieved what we wanted."
— Real Madrid boss ZInedine Zidane
Atletico struggling
Atletico Madrid were held 0-0 at Leganes, their second straight draw from the opening two games, both against newly promoted sides.
Euro 2016 top scorer Antoine Griezmann missed the best chance of the first half, while Leganes goalkeeper Jon Serantes saved from Kevin Gameiro and Fernando Torres after the break.
"If we keep playing like this, we'll be fighting against relegation," raged a frustrated Griezmann to BeIN Sports. - AFP.
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