Real Madrid limp to victory

Higuain and Ronaldo inspire a
lacklustre Real Madrid to victory over
Celta Vigo in Spain's Primera Division.
Gonzalo Higuain and Cristiano
Ronaldo hit a goal apiece in either half
as Real Madrid eased past Celta Vigo
with a 2-0 victory on Saturday.
Argentine striker Higuain gave the
current Primera Division champions a
lead on 12 minutes before Ronaldo
wrapped up the points with a second-
half penalty for a Madrid side that
never really got going against
unambitious opposition.
Newly-promoted Celta, backed by
noisy support, had won on their last
two visits to the Santiago Bernabeu in
2004 and 2007 but never looked like
repeating that feat this time.
The result means 'los blancos' move
within five points of Barcelona and
Atletico Madrid at the top of the
Primera Division, having played a
game more.
Injury woes
Coach Jose Mourinho needed to
shuffle his pack after a number of
players returned with injuries from
international duty.
Brazilian international Kaka was called
to start his first league game of the
season while Raphael Varane took
over in the centre of defence for only
his second.
There was also room for recent
signings Michael Essien and Luka
Modric as Mourinho kept one eye on
Wednesday's Champions League tie at
Borussia Dortmund.
It was Sergio Ramos, filling in at right-
back, who had the first chance of the
game when he headed a corner just
over on three minutes and from that
point a pattern of Madrid dominance
was established.
By the 12th minute Madrid were
ahead when Higuain powered down
the left wing and hit what looked like
a cross that curled into the top far
corner.
Ramos almost made it two from close
range and then Ronaldo headed over
a cross from Higuain as Celta
struggled to get into Real's half.
On 25 minutes they did mount their
first attack when the impressive Iago
Aspas forced a way through the
Madrid defence and produced a
diving save from Iker Casillas.
The visitors were showing more signs
of life with some neat passing but
Madrid continued to look comfortable
and could have doubled their lead on
37 minutes when Ronaldo clipped the
bar with an inventive volley.
Kaka’s return
Unhappy with only the one-goal
advantage at the interval Mourinho
called time on Kaka's return by
replacing him with Angel Di Maria for
the second period.
The half began at a slow pace until the
61st minute when Essien burst down
the left flank and Ronaldo narrowly
headed wide his cross.
Next it was Varane's turn to head
wide from a corner and Madrid's
anxiety was increasing as time ticked
by with the single goal lead.
However, the referee came to
Madrid's rescue when he gave what
appeared to be a contentious penalty
when Mesut Ozil went down under a
challenge from Gustavo Cabral on 68
minutes.
Ronaldo made no mistake from the
spot to make it nine league goals for
the season, one more than Lionel
Messi and Radamel Falcao.
Substitute Jose Callejon forced a save
from Celta's reserve keeper Sergio
Alvarez and Quique de Lucas did the
same at the other end for the visitors.
Casillas was forced into another save
from a Chu Young Park header before
the game petered out with both sides
seemingly content with the result.
Earlier, Malaga earned a 2-1 home
victory over Valladolid. The visitors
took an early lead when former
Manchester United striker Manucho
fired home after Omar Ramos had
caused chaos in the Malaga defence
with a mazy run.
A superb Isco levelled the game for
Malaga before the interval, before
Joaquin grabbed a winner on 87
minutes, only two minutes after
blasting a penalty over the bar.
Manucho was sent-off late on for a
Valladolid side unlucky not to share
the points.