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Score: Real Madrid 6-0 Celta Vigo
Goalscorers: Gareth Bale 13' 30', Isco 32', Achraf Hakimi 52', Sergi Gomez (OG) 74', Toni Kroos 81'
Real Madrid stormed their way to victory against Celta Vigo with a resounding 6-0 thrashing. In what was their final home game of the season, Los Blancos got back to winning ways with a memorable performance.
Gareth Bale scored a delightful brace while Isco added a third before the break, curling one beautifully past Sergio Alvarez. Achraf Hakimi extended Real Madrid's dominance in the second half with a well-taken goal.
Sergi Gomez, unfortunately, put one into his own net to pile on the misery for Celta even as Toni Kroos completed the rout for the hosts. On that note, let's analyze this match in further detail and dissect the key talking points that emerged from it:
#5 Real Madrid deliver a near perfect performance
After opting to field a second string side in the defeat to Sevilla, Zinedine Zidane played his full strength team against Celta Vigo. Despite all attention being on THE final against Liverpool on May 26, Zidane's men needed a solid performance under their belt to get into the groove.
After all, Real Madrid had not won a game of football in their last three attempts. But against Celta Vigo, Madrid were the superior side from the word go, winning the ball back quickly and enjoying large spells of possession.
Goals were scored for fun but more importantly, they kept a clean sheet in this one - a rarity for Real this season! This was just their second clean sheet at the Bernabeu in 2018 and Zidane would be content with his side excelling in all the departments before the final.
#4 Achraf Hakimi impresses on the night
With Dani Carvajal out injured and Nacho Fernandez deployed as a centre back, Achraf Hakimi was given the right-back duties. This has been a breakthrough season for the youngster who has made 17 appearances for Real this season.
Against Celta Vigo, Hakimi displayed his attacking prowess to a great extent as he made darting runs one after the other. He complemented Bale brilliantly on the flanks and was quick to track back and get back to his position as well.
On a day where Marcelo was not at his influencing best, Hakimi did the needful from the other flank. His solid outing was completed with a goal as he played a smart one-two with Karim Benzema before slotting one past the Celta goalkeeper.
Hakimi completed 83% of his passes and succeeded in 4/6 dribbles.
#3 Two huge decisions go against Celta Vigo
It was a disappointing performance from the away side from start to finish. Celta Vigo never looked up for the task and seemed beaten as soon as Bale scored Real Madrid's second on the night. But it can be argued that two huge decisions went against them.
Replays showed that Bale was marginally offside for the opening goal. It was a close decision which could have gone either way. Soon after, Celta Vigo surged ahead and got into a dangerous position. Brais Mendez was blatantly fouled by Casemiro in the 18-yard box and it should have been a penalty for the visitors.
The referee waved play on as Celta were denied a stonewall penalty. The match could have taken a different route had Celta been given a penalty at that stage.
But overall, the Celestes were shocking on the night and would have been beaten by a big margin even if both the decisions had gone in their favour.
#2 Selection headache mounts for Zinedine Zidane
Two weeks ago, not many would have argued against the notion that Gareth Bale would not be starting in Kiev against Liverpool. That would have been the general consensus with Zidane not trusting the Welshman in the big games.
But with an equalizer against Barcelona and a stunning brace against Celta Vigo, Bale has forced his way back into the scheme of things. Karim Benzema has divided opinion like never before but he too has been influential since the second leg against Bayern Munich.
Lucas Vazquez and Marco Asensio have been impressive whenever called upon while Isco announced his return from injury in grand style with a peach of a goal. We do not have to talk about Ronaldo in this discussion - the big man is in a league of his own!
The big question is - How will Zidane deploy his attacking unit against Liverpool? Will he go with a 4-4-2 or the traditional Real Madrid 4-3-3? Who out of Bale, Isco and Asensio will get the nod to start on May 26? These are some serious question that would be circling in Zidane's mind in the coming days, giving him sleepless nights for sure.
#1 Gareth Bale's renaissance
Before the match, there were murmurs that this game could be Gareth Bale's last at the Bernabeu. Linked with a move away from Real Madrid after a difficult season, Bale has not been fully trusted by his manager in recent months.
But with his splendid performance, Bale has proved that he is up for the fight and hungry to start regularly for Real Madrid. The Welshman scored two sumptuous goals on the night and was delightful to watch from minute one until his substitution in the 72nd minute.
He got on the end of a Modric through ball and neatly finished it to score Madrid's opener. His second was even better, one of the best scored at the Bernabeu this season. He flicked the ball past Jonny Castro and then slammed one past the keeper from a tight angle.
It was a goal that one will want to see in a loop on Twitter all day long. Bale now has 15 La Liga goals to his name this season in just 19 starts. With his brace against Celta Vigo, he may have put himself in the reckoning yet again and may well start the UEFA Champions League final against Liverpool.
