BARCELONA (REUTERS) - A late goal by Toni Kroos sealed victory as Real Madrid defeated an impressive Celta Vigo side 2-1 to win their first home La Liga game of the campaign on Saturday (Aug 27).
Alvaro Morata scored his first goal for the hosts since returning from Juventus to break the deadlock on the hour before Fabian Orellana levelled for Celta in the 67th minute.
Kroos then finished off substitute James Rodriguez's cut- back with a low drive from the edge of the area in the 81st minute, giving Real six points from their two league games this season.
With Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Keylor Navas sidelined, coach Zinedine Zidane fielded an almost identical XI to the side that won 3-0 at Real Sociedad, dropping only Mateo Kovacic for Luka Modric as he returned from suspension.
Croatia playmaker Modric rattled the bar and tested goalkeeper Sergio Alvarez with two other efforts from distance but it was Celta who squandered the first clear opening.
Theo Bogonda robbed Dani Carvajal and raced down the wing before opting to shoot when John Guidetti was unmarked in the area, the Belgian firing wide to his team mate's frustration.
Celta were lively after the break too although they did not cause Kiko Casilla too many problems in goal.
Gareth Bale clipped the bar at the other end with a free kick and the breakthrough arrived soon after.
Modric slipped a pass to Marco Asensio and the winger was thwarted by Alvarez, only for Morata to ram the loose ball into the net.
The former Juve forward almost grabbed a second a few minutes later when he latched on to a ball from Kroos and his effort bounced off the outside of the far post.
Celta then levelled following a crisp move between Daniel Wass, Guidetti and Orellana, the Chilean sending a rasping drive high beyond Casilla.
Zidane called on substitutes Rodriguez and Mariano Diaz and it was the out of favour Colombian, who started on the bench for the third game running, who made the difference.
After having a penalty appeal waved away and watching Bale squander a close-range header, Rodriguez chased down a loose ball on the right and slid it back for Kroos to score.
