MADRID: Zinedine Zidane’s revamped Real Madrid got the spark they needed from a couple of veterans to get off to a winning start in La Liga.

In the absence of injured new signing Eden Hazard, it was Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale who contributed with goals and assists as Real comfortably won at Celta Vigo 3-1 on Saturday.

Bale, who many thought would be gone from the squad by now, set up Benzema’s opening goal, then Toni Kroos and Lucas Vzquez added to the lead in a match in Real Madrid played most of the second half with 10 men following a red card to Luka Modric.

After Real’s attempts to transfer Bale failed, Zidane started the Wales forward at Balados Stadium.

“It was important to get off to a good start,” Zidane said. “It was great to get the three points in a difficult away match like this. We leave with a good feeling.” Benzema opened the scoring from close range after Bale’s perfectly timed low cross in front of the goal in the 12th minute.

“He is going to stay,” said Zidane, who last month was outspoken about Bale’s transfer being good for everyone. “We have reason to feel positive about all the players that we have in the squad right now.”

It was Real’s first away win since Zidane returned as coach late last season. The team is trying to rebound from one of their worst campaigns in decades, when they were out of title contention several weeks before the end of last season.

Modric was sent off early in the second half after video review showed he fouled an opponent from behind.

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made a spectacular reflex save off a close-range header on the ensuing free kick, and moments later Kroos added to Real’s lead with a superb long-range shot into the top corner.

Substitute Vzquez sealed the victory after a pass by Benzema following a nifty spin move by the French striker outside the area.

Without Hazard, who picked up a muscle injury in a training session on Friday, Zidane began the season with a 4-3-3 formation; Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane were flanked by Marcelo and Odriozola in the defense, Casemiro guarded Kroos and Modric in midfield, and Vincius Jr. joined Benzema and Bale in the attack.

Playmaker James Rodrguez, who also was expected to leave in the offseason after his loan to Bayern Munich ended, was on the bench.

On Friday, two-time defending champions Barcelona lost at Athletic Bilbao 1-0 for their first opening defeat in a decade.

Forward Kevin Gameiro had a chance to seal the victory five minutes into injury time but sent his shot from the spot over the crossbar. Mikel Oyazarbal evened the match by converting his own shot from the spot after a player on the Valencia wall touched the ball with his hand on a free kick.

VALENCIA’S LATE SETBACK

Valencia were held by Real Sociedad to a heartbreaking 1-1 draw at home after conceding an equaliser in stoppage time shortly after missing a penalty kick that would have increased their lead.

Elsewhere, Granada rallied from two goals down in the final 20 minutes of their 4-4 draw at Villarreal, while promoted Mallorca edged Eibar 2-1. Osasuna, another team back in the top flight, won at Leganes 1-0.

Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2019