Real Madrid inch closer to La Liga title with 4-0 win over Celta Vigo
Al Jazeera
Real Madrid move seven points clear of second-placed Girona and are favourites to win a record-extending 36th Spanish league title.
La Liga leaders Real Madrid regained their seven-point cushion at the top as they benefitted from two own goals in a comfortable 4-0 home win over struggling Celta Vigo.
Vinicius Junior turned in a rebound from Antonio Rudiger’s header at the second attempt midway through the first half at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday, before a Celta side coached by former Madrid boss Rafa Benitez unravelled late on.
Rudiger powered another header against the bar which bounced back off Celta goalkeeper Vicente Guaita and over the line for an own goal, effectively sealing the points for the hosts with 11 minutes left.
Guaita was then involved in a mix-up with Carlos Dominguez as the defender bundled a teasing Vinicius cross into his own net.
Turkish starlet Arda Guler, whose debut season in Spain has been ravaged by injuries, came off the bench to grab his first Madrid goal in stoppage time as Carlo Ancelotti’s side brushed off the absence of the suspended Jude Bellingham.