Celtic’s Champions League Group F rivals Real Madrid warmed up for their rematch against Shakhtar Donetsk with a 1-0 win over Getafe at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez to go top of La Liga before their fierce rivals Barcelona play Celta Vigo at the Camp Nou later today.
Los Blancos were ahead inside three minutes as Eder Militao powered in a header from from a Luka Modric corner, as it looked like Carlo Ancelotti’s champions were set to rack up the goals and eat into Barcelona’s goal difference at La Liga’s summit.
There was a moment of controversy before half-time as a Vinicius Jnr looked to have won a penalty after being clattered in the box at the end of a trademark run, but VAR correctly ruled that the ball had crossed over the far touchline before the Brazil forward advanced into Getafe’s box.
VAR came to the Azulones’ rescue again early in the second half, as Rodrygo was adjudged to have leaned offside before lobbing the ball delicately over the advancing David Soria in the Getafe goal for 2-0.
In the absence of talismanic forward Karim Benzema and first-choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, Militao’s early header was enough for the Spanish champions who held on for a crucial three points ahead of a trip to Warsaw to face Shakhtar on Tuesday.
As for the Ukrainian side, they had no league fixture this weekend as their trip to lowly FC Lviv was postponed, giving Igor Jovicevic’s side an extended rest before their Madrid rematch; Shakhtar lost 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Matchday 3 last week.
As we reported yesterday, Leipzig have had a pretty chaotic few days ahead of their return to Glasgow on Tuesday, drawing 1-1 at Mainz yesterday.
With reports of a pretty unorthodox agreement preceding a proposed transfer to Chelsea, Christopher Nkunku scored again to rescue a point for Marco Rose’s side, whose technical director Christopher Vivell has also left in the last few days.
The Bundesliga side today announced the signing of free agent Norway international goalkeeper Orjan Nyland who joins the club on a deal until the end of the season to replace stricken captain Peter Gulacsi, the Hungarian was confirmed to have suffered anterior cruciate ligament damage in the 3-1 win over Celtic on Wednesday.
Nyland isn’t eligible to play in the Champions League, so in all likelihood Janis Blaswich will continue to deputise in Gulacsi’s place in Paradise on Tuesday, as both sides look to stamp their authority in the race for second place in Group F.
In other news: Celtic legend doubles down on class Champions League prediction ahead of Leipzig showdown
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