Match ends, Celta de Vigo 1, Real Madrid 3.
Celta VigoCelta Vigo1Real MadridReal Madrid3
Zinedine Zidane said Gareth Bale is "going to stay" at Real Madrid after the Welsh forward set up Karim Benzema's opening goal in a 3-1 victory at Celta Vigo.
Bale was a surprise starter after being linked with a move away from the club this summer, but was involved in Madrid's best moments and Zidane insisted it was always his plan to play Bale in this game.
"He's going to stay and we all have to think of that as a positive thing," manager Zidane said.
"The injury to Eden Hazard was bad luck for us but it didn't change the plans we had for Bale in this game.
"Gareth and everyone else here is going to show this shirt the respect it deserves."
Bale had already tested Celta keeper Ruben Blanco with a rasping shot before delivering a pinpoint cross for Benzema to touch home after 12 minutes.
Celta responded well and thought they had equalised on the stroke of half-time, but Brais Mendez' effort was disallowed for offside by the video assistant referee.
Toni Kroos doubled Real's lead with a sensational 25-yard strike off the underside of the crossbar, shortly after Luka Modric was sent off for a late challenge on former Arsenal loanee Denis Suarez.
Despite going down to 10 men at Estadio Municipal de Balaidos, Real scored a third when Lucas Vazquez finished off a flowing move late on.
Celta's second-half substitute Iker Losada netted a consolation for the home side, beating Thibaut Courtois with a fierce shot in stoppage time.
La Liga champions Barcelona lost their opening league game of the season on Friday, going down 1-0 to Athletic Bilbao.
Line-ups
Celta Vigo
Formation 4-2-2-2
- 13BlancoBooked at 12mins
- 20VázquezBooked at 7mins
- 3CostasBooked at 74mins
- 4Araújo
- 15Olaza
- 14LobotkaSubstituted forSistoat 75'minutes
- 8BeltránSubstituted forDiop Gueyeat 83'minutesBooked at 86mins
- 23Méndez
- 6D SuárezBooked at 12mins
- 19FernándezBooked at 49minsSubstituted forLosadaat 88'minutes
- 10Iago Aspas
Substitutes
- 11Sisto
- 16Sáenz
- 18Aidoo
- 24Diop Gueye
- 25Villar
- 28Bermejo
- 36Losada
Real Madrid
Formation 4-3-3
- 13Courtois
- 19OdriozolaBooked at 64mins
- 5Varane
- 4Ramos
- 12Marcelo
- 10ModricBooked at 56mins
- 14Casemiro
- 8Kroos
- 11BaleSubstituted forIscoat 75'minutes
- 9BenzemaSubstituted forJovicat 81'minutes
- 28Vinícius JúniorBooked at 36minsSubstituted forVázquezat 69'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Navas
- 3Militão
- 6Nacho
- 16Rodríguez
- 17Vázquez
- 18Jovic
- 22Isco
- Referee:
- Javier Estrada Fernández
- Attendance:
- 23,614
Match Stats
Home TeamCelta VigoAway TeamReal Madrid
- Possession
- Home57%
- Away43%
- Shots
- Home7
- Away17
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away11
- Corners
- Home6
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home17
- Away12
Live Text
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Celta de Vigo 1, Real Madrid 3.
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Offside, Celta de Vigo. Pione Sisto tries a through ball, but Iago Aspas is caught offside.
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Foul by Pape Cheikh (Celta de Vigo).
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Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal!
Goal! Celta de Vigo 1, Real Madrid 3. Iker Losada (Celta de Vigo) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Pape Cheikh following a fast break.
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Attempt blocked. Álvaro Odriozola (Real Madrid) left footed shot from very close range is blocked. Assisted by Marcelo.
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Corner, Celta de Vigo. Conceded by Raphael Varane.
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Attempt blocked. Luka Jovic (Real Madrid) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Casemiro with a cross.
Substitution
Substitution, Celta de Vigo. Iker Losada replaces Gabriel Fernández.
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Foul by Brais Méndez (Celta de Vigo).
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Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Attempt saved. Isco (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
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Attempt blocked. Isco (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Booking
Pape Cheikh (Celta de Vigo) is shown the yellow card.
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Foul by Pape Cheikh (Celta de Vigo).
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Isco (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Pape Cheikh (Celta de Vigo).
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Isco (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Attempt saved. Marcelo (Real Madrid) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Isco.