Madrid: Diego López; Dani Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo; Xabi Alonso (Illarramendi 46‘), Modric; Di María (Bale 64‘), Isco (Jesé 61’), Ronaldo; Benzema. 4-2-3-1.
Celta: Yoel; Hugo Mallo, David Costas, Cabral, Jonny Castro; Augusto Fernández (Nolito 63’), Oubiña, Alex López (Krohn-Dehli 59’); Rafinha, Charles (Santi Mina 77‘), Orellana. 4-3-3.
Goals:
1-0. 67. Benzema. Poked shot wide of Yoel after Jesé crossed in from left of area.
2-0. 82. Ronaldo. Got on the end of Carvajal cross to slide ball in from close up.
3-0. 92. Ronaldo. Turned shot past Yoel from close to goal after Bale crossed in.
Yellow cards: Alex López 33’, Augusto Fernández 42’.
Real Madrid started the New Year with a 3-0 victory over Celta on Monday night which keeps them five points behind the two leaders. It was flattering result though, the goals coming late on after the visitors had given the local fans a fright or two, the first in the sixth minute when Diego López was called upon to turn a shot from Charles round the post. Rafinha, Orellana and Oubiña also went close before the break, and Yoel had little to do until he had to save a couple of efforts by Di María and Isco either side of half time. The introduction of Jesé livened things up though, the youngster bringing another save out of the visiting keeper before passing in for Benzema to open the scoring. Charles had missed another chance seconds earlier, and Nolito went close with a dangerous free kick, but with eight minutes to go Ronaldo got on the end of a long Carvajal cross to make it two. Soon afterwards Ronaldo was there again to turn in Bale’s cross, his 400th professional goal for club and country, and Celta were down and out, the last goal taking them in to the bottom three, below Valladolid on goal difference.