Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale. (Photo : Getty Images)
Perennial powerhouse squad Real Madrid CF (1-0-0, 3 points) will look for their second win in as many games to open their 2016-2017 La Liga season campaign as they face struggling squad Celta de Vigo (0-1-0, 0 points) at their home ground of Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on Aug. 27, Saturday.
Real Madrid, last season's runner-up team to FC Barcelona but winners of the 2015-2016 UEFA Champions League tournament, crushed Real Sociedad, 3-0, in their season-opener at the Anoeta Stadium last Sunday, as per Goal.
Head coach Zinedine Zidane's squad is still without superstar forwards Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema during the match as both are still recovering from their respective injuries, but the great play of Gareth Bale was enough for Los Blancos to dominate against their opponents.
The 27-year-old Welshman opened the scoring right at the second minute of the game with a close range header from a brilliant cross by defender Dani Carvajal. Loan returnee Marco Asensio then doubled the lead five minutes before the halftime break to ensure Real's control in the match.
Bale scored his second goal of the night right at the stroke of full time to complete the hosts' three-goal haul in their season-opener.
Meanwhile, Europa League qualifiers Celta Vigo was surprised by newly-promoted side CD Leganes, 0-1, at their own home turf of Estadio Municipal de Balaídos on Monday to drop their first game this season, via Super Sport.
The two squads fought to a goalless draw to end the first half, but Leganes right back Victor Diaz converted Venezuelan forward Darwin Machis' pass from a corner kick to a goal at the 75th minute, giving the visitors the one-point advantage late in the game.
Head coach Eduardo Berizzo's was not able to recover from it as they succumbed to their first loss this term right on opening day.
It is not yet known whether Ronaldo and Benzema will be available against Os Célticos, but Zidane has enough firepower to pull off another lopsided result.
The predicted result is another 3-0 rout by Real Madrid.
Real Madrid starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): Casilla; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Kovacic, Casemiro, Kroos; Bale, Morata, Asensio
Celta Vigo starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Alvarez; Mallo, Gomez, Roncaglia, Jonny; Wass, Diaz; Sisto, Orellana, Bongonda; Aspas
