Celta started the game full of hope, rightfully so with the Galician team counting on the top scorer of the league, Aspas, to try and beat the Belgian wall that is Courtois. Goals from Lucas and Asensio alongside a solid defensive performance were enough to ruin the visitors' night.
Celta looked promising with Nacho coming to the rescue early on to make a goalline clearance after a thundering shot from Aspas came close to putting the hosts behind early. In the very same play Real Madrid picked up the ball on the left wing in a lightning-quick counterattack and Asensio chipped in a cross for Lucas Vasquez to tap the ball in who was left unmarked on the far post in all the chaos.
The visitors pressured Madrid for the entire game and forced them to play a good portion of the game in their own defensive third. However, Real Madrid's class shone through on their numerous counters when in the 53rd minute Asensio scored from a counter that you might have missed if you blinked at the wrong moment. Not to mention that the counter came from an unforced passing error from Celta in the middle of the pitch.
While the two goals were enough to see the game out for a win, Celta did not give up until the final whistle. In what was a credit to the visitors' style and ability, Madrid were on the back foot for a good portion of the game but great defensive performances from Nacho, Kroos, and Mendy were enough to neutralise Celta's attacking prowess.