Match ends, Real Madrid 2, Celta de Vigo 1.
Alvaro Morata scored his first goal since returning to Real Madrid as he helped his team beat a stubborn Celta Vigo side and go top of La Liga.
Morata, who rejoined Real in June after a two-year spell at Juventus, finished after Celta Vigo goalkeeper Sergio had parried Marco Asensio's attempted chip.
The visitors quickly equalised through Fabian Orellana's powerful finish.
But Real, who hit the woodwork three times in the match, won it late on with Toni Kroos' composed finish.
The victory maintains Real's winning start to the season after they defeated Sevilla 3-2 in the Uefa Super Cup and Real Sociedad 3-0 in their La Liga opener last weekend.
Barcelona will move above Real Madrid on Sunday if they beat Athletic Bilbao.
Dominant Real take the points after scare
Real dominated the game at the Bernabeu but were given a fright by a Celta Vigo side who finished sixth in La Liga last season.
Luka Modric hit the bar from 25 yards, before Gareth Bale's long-range free-kick also hit the woodwork as a Real side, without the injured Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, looked to make their dominance count.
Morata, who helped Real win La Liga in 2012 and the Champions League in 2014 during his first spell at the Bernabeu, put the hosts ahead before hitting the post moments later.
Real were ahead for six minutes before Orellana equalised in a rare Celta attack, but Kroos scored only his fourth La Liga goal in his third season at Real to win it.
Will Rodriguez stay at Real?
Despite Ronaldo and Benzema missing through injury, there was still no place in Real's starting line-up for Colombian James Rodriguez.
Rodriguez, who joined Real in 2014 in a transfer that could be worth up to £71m, has failed to start a game this season and was only introduced after 69 minutes with the score at 1-1.
On Friday, Real coach Zinedine Zidane admitted Rodriguez's lack of playing time "could prove a problem" and admitted "some players" could leave the Bernabeu during the transfer window.
Zidane's quotes came after Spanish sports newspaper AS reported that Rodriguez would seek a move from the club if he did not start against Celta.
The transfer window closes on 31 August, with Real next in action on 10 September when they entertain Osasuna.
Line-ups
Real Madrid
Formation 4-3-3
- 13Casilla
- 2Carvajal
- 5Varane
- 4Ramos
- 12Marcelo
- 19ModricSubstituted forRodríguezat 69'minutes
- 14Casemiro
- 8Kroos
- 11Bale
- 21MorataSubstituted forMarianoat 77'minutes
- 20AsensioSubstituted forVázquezat 65'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Pepe
- 10Rodríguez
- 16Kovacic
- 17Vázquez
- 18Mariano
- 23Danilo
- 31Yáñez
Celta Vigo
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Álvarez
- 2MalloBooked at 52mins
- 22Cabral
- 24Roncaglia
- 19Castro OttoBooked at 55mins
- 6RadojaSubstituted forSistoat 85'minutes
- 8Hernández
- 14Orellana
- 18WassSubstituted forDiop Gueyeat 77'minutes
- 7Bongonda Mbul'Ofeko Batombo
- 9GuidettiSubstituted forIago Aspasat 73'minutes
Substitutes
- 10Iago Aspas
- 11Sisto
- 20Gómez
- 21Planas Antolínez
- 23Señé Escudero
- 26Villar
- 28Diop Gueye
- Referee:
- Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea
- Attendance:
- 61,568
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home54%
- Away46%
- Shots
- Home24
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home10
- Away3
- Corners
- Home7
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home8
- Away11
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Real Madrid 2, Celta de Vigo 1.
Post update
Attempt missed. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Mariano.
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Attempt saved. James Rodríguez (Real Madrid) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Gareth Bale.
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Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Facundo Roncaglia.
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Attempt blocked. Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Mariano.
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Corner, Celta de Vigo. Conceded by Raphael Varane.
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Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Pablo Hernández (Celta de Vigo).
Substitution
Substitution, Celta de Vigo. Pione Sisto replaces Nemanja Radoja.
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Attempt missed. Theo Bongonda (Celta de Vigo) header from the centre of the box is too high following a corner.
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Corner, Celta de Vigo. Conceded by Marcelo.
Goal!
Goal! Real Madrid 2, Celta de Vigo 1. Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Lucas Vázquez.
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Marcelo (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Orellana (Celta de Vigo).
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Attempt saved. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Lucas Vázquez with a cross.
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Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Facundo Roncaglia.
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Marcelo (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Orellana (Celta de Vigo).
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Attempt blocked. Mariano (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Lucas Vázquez.