Match Review: Celta Vigo vs Real Madrid (2nd Leg, Copa del Rey Quarter Finals)

Real Madrid painfully exit the Copa del Rey. In a match where Real Madrid were without the services of Gareth Bale, Luka Modric, James Rodriguez, Pepe and Marcelo, all the Whites could muster up was a 2-2 draw against Celta Vigo.

With Real Madrid getting knocked out of Copa , the dream of winning the treble is no more alive.

Zidane’s men dominated the match and the lot will be very disappointed to not have advanced to the semi final. Celta Vigo enter the semi finals joining Alaves, Atletico Madrid and the winner of the Barcelona-Real Sociedad match.

Owing to Real’s injury crisis, Zidane played Casemiro as a CB and often committed Danilo forward to increase the pressure. Real Madrid will be frustrated with themselves for failing to convert their goal scoring opportunities. Real Madrid have now lost 3 out of their last 4 matches.

First Half

Real Madrid entered the battle chasing the game as Celta were leading on aggregate 2-1. Madrid came into the match hungry for the comeback. Cristiano Ronaldo had almost opened the scoring for the Whites in the 26th minute when an Isco cross found Ronaldo, who beat Cabral in the air and headed the ball only for it to kiss the crossbar. The ball landed right back to the feet of Ronaldo, who had a FIFA (the video game) moment, when he missed from point blank range. The Portuguese forward couldn’t believe what had just transpired.

Kiko Casilla was all class once again as he managed to deal with any threat Celta would attempt. However, Real Madrid were punished for not scoring around the half hour mark as a very unfortunate Danilo scored an own goal yet again. Owing to exceptional team work, Wass got himself clear in the box and found Guidetti, whose shot was saved by Casilla, only for the rebound to bounce right off the leg of Danilo, who unintentionally scored an own goal.

Danilo, by smiling right after he scored an own goal did not do himself any favors, as he will not in all certainty be well received by the Bernabeu faithful in the weekend.

Second Half

It was the 62nd minute when Real Madrid equalized, courtesy of a direct free-kick by Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese’s perfectly struck free kick from 25 yards diverged the Celta wall and beat Sergio Alvarez at the far post. Alvarez jumped the right way, but there was no stopping that free-kick from Ronaldo.

Ronaldo then had another free-kick, which went wide. Sergio Ramos had a header go wide as well from a Toni Kroos set-piece. With Real Madrid still needing goals, Zidane used all his substitutions. Isco was replaced by Morata as the former couldn’t really contribute much in the second half; and Lucas Vazquez came in for Asensio as Real Madrid searched for more goals.

Madrid were once again punished for failing to convert their opportunities into goals as it was Celta who found another goal in the 85th minute courtesy of Wass to make it 2-1 for the match and 4-2 on aggregate.

With the Whites needing 2 goals to avoid elimination, it was almost all over, only for Lucas Vazquez who was clear to head in a goal at the 90th minute to make it 2-2 for the match and 4-3 on aggregate. The scoreline would stick as spectators were denied another great Real Madrid comeback by Celta Vigo.

After finding themselves out of the King’s Cup, Real Madrid now look to do well and maintain their La Liga lead when they welcome Real Sociedad in the Santiago Bernabeu.