Match Report: Real Madrid Castilla 2-0 Celta Vigo B

After losing the last match to a poor Internacional side, this was the last chance for Castilla to remain in the play-off spaces ahead of the last ten games of the season. They were going to have to best a fellow La Liga B in Celta Vigo B, a team that they failed to beat when the sides met earlier in the season despite help from Vinícius Júnior. There were plenty of rotations within the team tonight which was healthy to see, with Dani Fernández and De la Fuente returning to the starting line-up. Ayoub Abou was also reintroduced, I was a little confused as to why Cristo González was nowhere in sight, but it is now apparent that he will be in the first team squad for tomorrow’s game against Valladolid. Hot shot Dani Gómez filled in up top.

The first half was perhaps the most boring of the season so far, so much so that there isn’t much else to say after this sentence. If the ball wasn’t at Jorge De Frutos’ feet, then nothing happened. The second half was far more encouraging, probably as the whites new they needed a result. From the get-go they attacked, and ended up hitting the woodwork multiple times through Alberto, Fernández and Gómez. Celta offered no threat to the Castilla back-line, allowing the whites to constantly invade the opposition half. It looked like a goal might evade the youngsters in-spite of their good play, but once again Dani Gómez was going to have none of it. He picked the ball up a good distance from goal, before turning immediately and letting off a powerful shot that arrowed straight into the top corner. Castilla continued to attack, but it seemed that only some magical was going to find it’s way into the net. Fortunately for us spectator’s, Real Madrid players tend to possess magic in abundance. Substitute Jaime Seaone won the ball back in injury time, before rounding his man and lifting the ball over the keeper to make it two just ahead of the full time whistle.

So Castilla secured the win. A vital win when considering the team’s objectives for the rest of the season. They have now been in and around the play-off’s for all twenty-eight games so far, and with just ten remaining look to be in a strong position to defend their spot. Let’s quickly run through some of reasons to be optimistic for play-off success, as well as some of the reasons to be more reserved:

Ten games to go. Ten games to make Castilla history. Either way, this team has already achieved their objectives this season, and will be a success nonetheless. Making the play-off’s would be amazing, but even if they were handed the much needed help of Vinícius, there’s no guarantee that Castilla would make it past the first hurdle coming up against teams from the other groups. We can only wait and see, and I for one will be pretty happy to have to face that problem if it arrives. Man of the match today was game changer Dani Gómez. Whilst De Frutos was excellent throughout, Dani came up with the magic once again to keep the team pushing towards the dream! For the first final of ten next week, Castilla come up second placed Fuenlabrada... A win there could potentially see Castilla jump up to second. A loss could again see them dumped out of the play-off zones. Make sure you don’t miss this one...

Goals: Gómez & Seaone.
Assist: Fidalgo.

MOTM: Gómez .