Celta strike late to put brakes on Real Madrid
Real Madrid's winning streak ended if they conceded a late goal to draw 2-2 in the home to Celta Vigo and finish the weekend with their lead over Barcelona right down to one point.
Real manager Zinedine Zidane was philosophical.
"There's nothing to explain, it's just just how things are, it's football," he said. "I'm not concerned about it, but I'm disappointed, as always when you drop two points in the home."
Barcelona beat third place Getafe on Saturday to open a 10-point gap on the chasing pack. Sevilla could have climbed to third on Sunday but were held, 2-2, in the home by rock-bottom Espanyol.
Real had won five straight in La Liga to accelerate past Barcelona. On Sunday they welcomed back Eden Hazard, who was simply out since November. Coach Zinedine Zidane also recalled his other 100 million euro player Gareth Bale to complete an all-star attack with Karim Benzema.
Yet Celta leapt in to the lead after seven minutes. A pass from Iago Aspas sent Fedor Smolov galloping clear up the middle and he shot low past Thibaut Courtois.
"There were mistakes, especially for the first goal," said Zidane. "We weren't well positioned, it happens, and it'll eventually us again."
Celta had only climbed out from the relegation places the weekend before and looked anxious and overawed on your golf ball.
Real dominated all of those other first half and their starry attacking lineup produced pacy, intricate and imaginative attacking interchanges but a combo of good defending and bad finishing kept Real out for all of those other first half.
Real again dominated the beginning of the first half.
Sergio Ramos, already playing as an extra striker, slammed the ball in to the net but had been standing offside.
In the 52nd minute, Marcelo, not for the very first time, found space on the left. His low cross deflected to Toni Kroos following a attack. The German drilled in the equaliser. It had been the sixth straight season Kroos had scored against Celta.
In the 65th minute, goalkeeper Ruben Blanco pulled down the impressive Hazard. Ramos slammed the penalty in to the bottom corner of the web.
"We're glad he's back," said Zidane who took the Belgian off in the 73rd minute.
"We really know what he can do for all of us. He didn't go beyond we planned after three months out," Zidane said. "He was involved with a lot of attacking action."
Celta responded by rediscovering their attacking nerve.
With four minutes left, a sharp pass from Denis Suarez, who had come on in the 71st minute, caught the true back four rigid on the edge of their own area. Santi Mina, who was simply on for two minutes, raced onto the ball and drilled a shot past Courtois.
"An extraordinary pass," said Zidane.
Real play Levante in the league next Sunday before entertaining Manchester City in the Champions League.
"Now we have to prepare for our next game, because from then on it will get harder and harder."
Real Madrid also used the match Sunday to send a note to China.
- Message for China -
The players came on before the match wearing shirts with the Chinese message "China, seriously!"
Through the game the advertising hoardings flashed up the English message "Wuhan! Seriously! We support you!"
"Real Madrid wishes expressing its full support for every one of the people damaged by the coronavirus," the club tweeted in English.
Yao Fei, Charge d'Affaires in China's Madrid embassy, responded with a tweet of thanks in Spanish.
"A million because of Real Madrid for their valuable support for China in the fight against the coronavirus! Victory will be ours!"
The idea ensured Celta stayed just beyond your relegations places before Mallorca, who beat Alaves on Saturday, on goal difference. The pair are two points free from Leganes, who drew with Betis on Sunday and Espanyol who drew at Sevilla.
Sevilla missed a chance to exploit Getafe's loss to Barcelona and fourth-placed Atletico Madrid's 2-2 draw at Valencia on Friday.
Lucas Ocampos headed Sevilla in the front after 14 minutes before Adrian Embarba levelled the scores with a free-kick.
China winger Wu Lei put the away side ahead 5 minutes after the break.
After Victor Sanchez was sent off Suso exploited Sevilla's man advantage to score his first goal for the club since arriving on loan from AC Milan last month.
