Modric excels in Real Madrid’s 4-1 win over Celta Vigo
Luka Modric showed his high value again by scoring a great goal
and creating another to lead Real Madrid to a big win away from
Celta Vigo 4-1, and the defending champion continued his successful
start to the Spanish First Division.
Celta seemed to dominate until the 41st minute, when 36-year-old Croatian
Modric shoved a brilliant defender and then fired a stunning shot from outside
the penalty area to give the European champions a 2-1 lead at the end of the first half.
Karim Benzema opened the scoring with a penalty kick in the 14th minute
after the VAR system detected a handball, and Iago Aspas equalized after
nine minutes in the same way after another handball.
After the break, Modric passed a cunning ball to Vinicius Junior,
who was alone in the goalkeeper and dribbled with him before shooting
into the empty goal after a high-speed counter-attack in the 56th minute.
After impressing in Real’s comeback against Almeria last week,
Vinicius returned to pose a constant threat to Celta’s defense thanks
to his speed and skill.
Ten minutes after the third goal and during another effective counter-attack,
Vinicius made Federico Valverde’s goal to complete the quartet.
Modric exited after 11 minutes of the fourth goal to applause from
Celta fans in appreciation of the player who won the Ballon d’Or in 2018.
“It’s nice that the fans of the opposing team are aware of your work,” Modric told DAZON.
“It is a special gesture and I was moved by it, and I have no words
to comment on this behaviour,” he added.
“We played a great match, especially from the end of the first half.
It is great to start the season with two victories and a good performance.”
Modric played alongside youngsters Aurelien Chuamini and
Eduardo Camavinga in the midfield in Real’s first match without Casemiro,
who moved to Manchester United on Friday.
The French duo played steady and alternated as defensive midfielders
but added a quality and a touch of skill to coach Carlo Ancelotti’s squad
that may have been missing with Casemiro.
Modric continued, “Casimiro made history with the club and we will miss him,
but we must move forward and all make extra efforts to try to replace him and
I think we have the papers needed.”
Real could have increased the yield, but substitute Eden Hazard missed
a penalty kick given to him by Benzema in the last minutes after goalkeeper
Agustin Marchesen saved the Belgian player’s shot.
Modric excels in Real Madrid’s 4-1 win over Celta Vigo
