Karim Benzema scored for a sixth consecutive game as his double helped Real Madrid to a 3-1 win over Celta Vigo in La Liga.
The France striker’s goals were both assisted by Germany midfielder Toni Kroos as Madrid moved above rivals Barcelona into second in the table.
Celta pulled one back on 40 minutes through Santi Mina’s powerful header.
After a lethargic second half from Real, Benzema turned provider as Marco Asensio added a third in stoppage time.
Benzema’s double at the Balaidos puts the 33-year-old on 23 goals in all competitions for Madrid so far this season.
Real’s victory also edges Zinedine Zidane’s side to within three points of league leaders Atletico Madrid, as the French boss continues his quest to lift back-to-back titles with the Spanish giants.
Atletico and Ronald Koeman’s Barca play their league games on Sunday.
Celta Vigo 1-3 Real Madrid – as it happened Benzema shines again for Real With nine games to go until the end of the La Liga season, Benzema has hit a purple patch at just the right time.
His strike against Atalanta on Tuesday gave Real the platform to secure a 4-1 aggregate win that put them through to an eye-catching Champions League quarter-final against Premier League champions Liverpool.
In Saturday’s encounter with Celta Vigo, Benzema first latched on to Kroos’ threaded pass to turn his marker and clinically finish into the bottom corner past goalkeeper Ivan Villar.
His second – and eighth in six matches – was a left-footed shot driven home after midfielder Kroos dispossessed defender Renato Tapia on the edge of the Celta penalty area.
Benzema’s assist for Asensio’s late, close-range shot was checked by VAR for offside, but the strike was awarded on the full-time whistle.
There were good and bad points for Zidane to ponder after Madrid’s second win in a week.
His side are now unbeaten in 10 away games in La Liga but have not kept a clean sheet in their last four league games.
It was also a nervy second 45 minutes for Real, as former Liverpool striker Iago Aspas twice came close to finding an equaliser for 11th-placed Celta.
The Spaniard saw an effort palmed away by Madrid keeper Thibaut Courtois, then a thunderous free-kick deflected off the head of Casemiro and hit the post.
Line-upsCelta VigoFormation 4-1-3-2
1Villar
2Mallo4Araújo24Murillo19Martín
14Tapia
23Méndez6D Suárez9Nolito
10Iago Aspas22Mina Lorenzo
1Villar2Mallo4Araújo24MurilloSubstituted forFerreyraat 84’minutes19Martín14TapiaBooked at 25mins23MéndezSubstituted forBeltránat 84’minutes6D SuárezBooked at 78mins9NolitoSubstituted forSolariat 71’minutesBooked at 85minsSubstituted forFontánat 90+1’minutes10Iago Aspas22Mina LorenzoSubstitutes8Beltrán12Ferreyra17Juncà18Aidoo20Vázquez21Solari27Baeza29Fontán41SequeiraReal MadridFormation 4-1-2-1-2
1Courtois
17Vázquez5Varane6Nacho23Mendy
14Casemiro
15Valverde8Kroos
10Modric
20Vinícius Júnior9Benzema
1Courtois17Vázquez5Varane6NachoBooked at 70mins23Mendy14Casemiro15Valverde8KroosBooked at 39minsSubstituted forAsensioat 71’minutes10ModricBooked at 80mins20Vinícius JúniorBooked at 22mins9BenzemaSubstitutes3Militão11Asensio12Marcelo13Lunin22Isco25Rodrygo26Altube34DuroReferee:Mario Melero López
Live TextMatch ends, Celta Vigo 1, Real Madrid 3.
Second Half ends, Celta Vigo 1, Real Madrid 3.
Goal! Celta Vigo 1, Real Madrid 3. Marco Asensio (Real Madrid) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Karim Benzema.
Substitution, Celta Vigo. José Manuel Fontán replaces Augusto Solari because of an injury.
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Augusto Solari.
Attempt blocked. Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Federico Valverde with a cross.
Foul by Aarón Martín (Celta Vigo).
Federico Valverde (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt blocked. Facundo Ferreyra (Celta Vigo) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Attempt blocked. Facundo Ferreyra (Celta Vigo) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Iago Aspas with a cross.
Foul by Augusto Solari (Celta Vigo).
Casemiro (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Hugo Mallo (Celta Vigo).
Casemiro (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Aarón Martín (Celta Vigo) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid).
Augusto Solari (Celta Vigo) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Augusto Solari (Celta Vigo).
Casemiro (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Celta Vigo. Fran Beltrán replaces Brais Méndez.
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