Real Madrid 2-0 Celta, Player Ratings: Vazquez shines

10:50pm on Saturday 2nd January 2021
By Stefan Bienkowski

Real Madrid moved into first place in the Spanish top flight with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Celta Vigo on Saturday.

Zinedine Zidane’s side were determined to pick up all three points after a drab 1-1 draw with Elche in midweek and did exactly that with impressive, individual performances throughout the team.

So who were the standout performers?

Real Madrid 2-0 Celta: Player Ratings, Match Stats, Player Stats

✔️ GOOD PERFORMANCE

Marco Asensio: 8.0

In only his third start for Zidane’s Madrid side since the start of December, Marco Asensio quickly ensured fans and critics alike what he was capable of with a tremendous attacking performance against Celta.

The attacking midfielder struck first in the 6th minute when he sent a superb cross into the Celta box for Lucas Vazquez to latch on to and fire home a header at the right post.

The 24-year-old Spaniard then bagged a goal of his own mid-way through the second half when Vazquez returned the favour and squared the ball to Asensio to beat Ruben Blanco in the Celta goal with a brilliant shot into the left side of the net.

❌ BAD PERFORMANCE

Brias Mendez: 5.8

Although Celta were by no means favourites for the clash in Madrid, their standing in the Spanish top flight unquestionably demanded a little more of a threat than what fans of the traveling side ultimately got.

Perhaps the most obvious example of this failure to show up came in the form of attacker Brias Mendez, who failed to leave any sort of mark on the game whatsoever.

Despite playing for the full match, Mendez failed to record a single shot on goal or a single cross into the Madrid box.

⭐ STAR MAN

Lucas Vazquez: 8.2

So far this season Lucas Vazquez has seen his own form mirror the inconsistent nature of Madrid’s fortune in different competitions. Prior to Saturday’s clash with Celta the forward had only scored one goal in 18 games for Zidane’s side.

However, against Celta fans of the capital side were offered a perfect example of what Vazquez can do when he’s on form for the Spanish giants.

His goal in the six minute was a tremendous example of the forward’s movement and eye for goal when he sprinted to the far post and tucked a header inside the post to open the scoring.

Similarly, his determination to chase down a through ball and snatch the ball off the intercepting defender in the 53rd minute to then set up Asensio for his goal also showed just how instrumental the 29-year-old still can be for Madrid.

Real Madrid 2-0 Celta: Player Ratings, Match Stats, Player Stats