Hazard Returns As Real Drop Points In Four-Goal Thriller
17 February, 2020
LaLiga
Result: Real Madrid 2-2 Celta Vigo
Date: 16 February 2020
Venue: Santiago Bernabeu
Eden Hazard made his long-awaited go back to action as Real Madrid dropped points against Celta Vigo at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday night.
Hazard made his first appearance since November 2019 while Toni Kroos and Marcelo were also re-called to the Los Blancos set up.
Madrid got off to a bad start though, as Fedor Smolov gave Celta a surprise lead in the seventh minute after beating the offside trap to slot in to the bottom corner.
Zidane's charges dominated thereafter but were struggled to create clear openings as Karim Benzema cut a frustrated figure upfront.
The hosts did near snatching the equaliser 5 minutes prior to the break after Hazard sent a cross into box, but Gareth Bale's first-time strike sailed while Thibaut Courtois produced an excellent save to deny Joseph Aidoo at the other end occasions later.
Los Blancos thought that they had levelled matters four minutes following the break when Sergio Ramos finished off Bale's cross at the far post however the celebrations were cut short as the Spanish defender was flagged offside.
However, Zidane's men eventually found the equaliser 3 minutes later because of a well positioned strike into the bottom corner by Kroos after being picked out by Marcelo.
The hosts were then awarded a penalty in the 65th minute after Celta goalkeeper Ruben Blanco brought down Hazard inside box, which allowed Ramos to intensify and fire Los Blancos ahead.
Zidane opted to re-shuffle his stall with 20 minutes remaining and introduced Vinicius Junior for Hazard while Luka Modric came on for Kroos to stabilise the midfield ten minutes later.
However, Oscar Garcia's got the equaliser in the 85th minute, with Santiago Mina latching onto Denis Suarez's through ball before calmly slotting past Courtois.
Karim Benzema practically punished the visitors in stoppage time after latching on a cut-back inside box but his powerful strike was kept out by Blanco as Celta held on for a spot.
Source: www.soccerladuma.co.za
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