Madrid (AFP)

Hanging on to Elche on Wednesday (1-1), Real Madrid recovered against Celta Vigo (2-0) thanks to the duo Asensio-Vazquez and provisionally took the lead of La Liga on Saturday night, during the 17th day.

Zinédine Zidane's team is one point ahead of Atlético Madrid, which goes to Alavés on Sunday.

A relative accounting advantage over the Colchoneros who will still have two games late to play after that of Sunday.

Facing Celta, 8th in the championship, Real provided the essentials in its Alfredo Di Stefano stadium: start the year 2021 with a success after his misstep at the promoted Elche in the last match of 2020.

Iago Aspas (9 goals, 6 assists) against Karim Benzema (8 goals, 5 assists): the match promised great opposition between the two top scorers and assistants in La Liga, but they ultimately remained silent.

Aspas even had to give up his place due to injury in the 51st minute

It was Lucas Vazquez, served by Marco Asensio, who opened the scoring with a header for Real (1-0, 6th).

The same duo prevailed at the start of the second half.

Vazquez this time offered the second goal ball to Asensio (2-0, 53rd).

Karim Benzema, captain in the absence of Sergio Ramos (ill), almost scored Madrid's third goal but his strikes came close (63rd) and above (89th).

- Fekir misses a penalty -

At the start of the evening, Betis Sevilla missed the opportunity to afford the derby against Sevilla FC (1-1) in its Benito Villamarin stadium.

Led to the score after the opener from Suso (48th), Manuel Pellegrini's players equalized from the penalty spot thanks to Sergio Canales, but a quarter of an hour from the end Nabil Fekir missed a second penalty, which he himself had obtained.

Enough to extend the period of doubt that the French international is going through, who has not scored and delivered an assist for more than three months.

In the standings, Sevilla cedes its fourth place to Villarreal, winner in the afternoon of Levante (2-1), while Betis temporarily gains a place (9th) despite the draw at home.

During a duel for maintenance, Valladolid moved away from the red zone (14th) by winning 1-0 in Getafe (15th) thanks to a goal from his Israeli striker Shon Weissman.

In addition to Atlético's trip to Alavés on Sunday, Real Sociedad, third, receives their neighbor Osasuna.

Far behind the leading trio, FC Barcelona, ​​6th at 11 points from Real, but with a late match, must absolutely win at the red lantern Huesca after their draw against Eibar (1-1)

Off the pitch, the Catalan club are also going through a complicated period between the next election of a new president and uncertainty over the future of Lionel Messi, whose contract ends next June.

© 2021 AFP