French striker Karim Benzema led his team, Real Madrid, to a 2-1 victory over host Celta Vigo on Saturday in the 30th round of La Liga. Benzema scored both winning goals for the royal club from penalties in the 18th and 69th minutes, while Nolito netted the only goal for Celta Vigo in the 54th minute. Real Madrid raised its points total at the top to 69, 12 points ahead of its closest rival Sevilla, while Celta Vigo's tally remained at 36 in 11th place.
The first few minutes of the match passed without any danger to either goal, with Real Madrid having a relative edge in possession of the midfield. The first serious chance came in the 14th minute when Denis Suarez struck a powerful shot from the edge of the box, but Thibaut Courtois, Real Madrid's goalkeeper, made a steady save. The royal club responded with a dangerous opportunity from a strong shot by Brazilian Vinicius Junior from outside the box, but Matias Dituro, Celta Vigo's goalkeeper, brilliantly parried the shot.
Real Madrid was awarded a penalty in the 18th minute due to Nolito's foul on Eder Militao, which Benzema converted to give the visitors the lead. Celta Vigo came close to equalizing in the 23rd minute when Iago Aspas fired a rocket from outside the box, but Courtois responded bravely to keep his team ahead. Benzema was near scoring his second goal and adding to Real’s tally ten minutes before the end of the first half, but Dituro stood firm against him.
Five minutes before halftime, the referee disallowed a goal scored by Thiago Galardo for Celta Vigo due to offside. Real Madrid resumed their attacking play and looked to score a second goal three minutes into the second half, when Luka Modric unleashed a powerful shot from outside the box, but Dituro once again saved his goal from certain danger.
Celta Vigo equalized in the 54th minute when Javi Galan sent a pass from the left that Nolito converted with a shot from inside the box into the net. Rodrigo Silva earned a penalty for Real Madrid in the 63rd minute, and Benzema took the kick but it was saved by Celta's goalkeeper. However, the referee awarded a third penalty to Real Madrid, which Benzema successfully converted this time to score his team's second goal in the 69th minute. No changes occurred in the closing minutes, allowing Real Madrid to claim the victory by 2-1 and secure three valuable points.
