Celta win a free kick on the left corner of the box once more, and again Nolito goes for goal. He thumps his effort straight into the wall, though, and Madrid fail in their attempts to break.
90' +1
We are into the first of an additional three minutes.
89'
Bale shows great feet to get into space on the corner of the box and clips a cross to the back post, but Coentrao cannot get in front of his marker to connect with a header.
87'
Sergio Ramos gets yellow.
Larrivey attempts a bicycle kick inside the Madrid box, but he catches Ramos in the head and is penalised for the foul.
85'
J. Hernández enters the game and replaces Cristiano Ronaldo.
Celta put in a valiant display, but ultimately it is the quality of Ronaldo that has been their undoing. They still continue to press and look for an opening in these closing stages, though. The Portuguese comes off to a standing ovation, with Chicharito replacing him.
83'
It has not been an indomitable performance from Ronaldo by any means, but he has taken his chances when they've come and he has got his rewards. His latest strike was his 200th for Real Madrid in La Liga. Milestone upon milestone!
82'
Santi Mina enters the game and replaces M. Krohn-Dehli.
81'
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored a goal for Real Madrid! Assist by Marcelo.
GOOOOOOAAAL!! HISTORIC HAT-TRICK FOR RONALDO! The Portuguese taps Marcelo's cross home at the back post to complete his 23rd La Liga trio, taking him beyond Telmo Zarra and Alfredo di Stefano! What a night for Ronaldo.
80'
Fábio Coentrão enters the game and replaces K. Benzema.
NOLITO! The winger comes agonisingly close to picking out the top corner, but his effort bends just outside the post and crashes into the side netting!
Minute
Description
79'
Arbeloa gets yellow.
ALVAREZ! Kroos swings a free kick in from the left and Bale flicks it on at the near post. The ball looks to be heading into the top corner until Alvarez leaps up and plucks it out of the sky!
Arbeola goes into the book now for a poor challenge on Larrivey. The challenge came just outside the area, and Celta have another good chance to worry Casillas from this.
77'
P. Hernández gets yellow.
Hernandez picks up a cheap booking after blocking Illarramendi's attempt to take a quick free kick. This game is becoming rather scrappy and bitty in the latter stages.
75'
Dani Carvajal gets yellow.
Nolito sends a shot narrowly wide of the top corner and in the break in play Carvajal is booked following his protests at not being awarded a free kick moments earlier. Ramos follows up by getting up close and personal with the ref, but he gets let off the hook.
74'
Sergi Gómez enters the game and replaces G. Cabral.
Kross plays a stray pass out for a Celta throw in, and they take the opporutnity to replace the injured Cabral with Sergi Gomez.
Benzema surges in behind the defence from the right flank, and rather than square to Ronaldo he opts to shoot. His scooped attempt is held comfortably by Alvarez, with Fontas and Jonny combining to put enough pressure on him to fluster him.
72'
Just as the corner is whipped in, the medical staff seeing to Cabral show that he will need to be substituted. Ronaldo then heads the delivery away.
71'
Cabral has stayed down by the near post having landed awkwardly after attempting to get his head to the initial corner. He looks to be in some pain as he is assessed by the medical staff.
70'
A. Fernández enters the game and replaces Fabián Orellana.
Nolito attempts to clip the free kick over the wall but Bale jumps up and flicks it behind for a corner to the visitors.
69'
Nolito is tripped by Illarramendi as Orellana teed him up for a shot from 20 yards, and on his way to the deck he collides with Pepe. All those involved are soon back to their feet, though, and the break offers Berizzo the chance to replace Orellana with Augusto Fernandez.
67'
Ancelotti will no doubt be delighted that his side have got that second goal now. They could have been in for a tense closing 20 minutes had they not improved upon their tally.
65'
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored a goal for Real Madrid!
GOOOOOAAAAL! RONALDO GETS HIS SECOND! Kroos creates it with a darting run from midfield, and his attempt at a one-two with the Portuguese loops up and falls kindly for the forward. He catches it on the volley and rattles it past Alvarez and into the back of the net! His 22nd Liga goal this season, already!
64'
Celta are very well-organised, refusing Madrid a simple route up from the back. They are contesting every ball and pressing high up the pitch.
62'
GOOD SAVE! Fontas loses possession inside the Madrid box and the hosts break at pace. Carvajal leads the charge before releasing Ronaldo down the right. The ball is then worked across to Bale on the left, whose stinging shot is kept out of the net by Alvarez yet again!
60'
We have played an hour now, and Ancelotti will want his team to add to their tally soon. The longer there just remains one goal in it, the more confident Celta will become. They just need to get more shots away!
59'
Kroos releases Bale down the left but the former Tottenham Hotspur man's delivery is poor, and Cabral heads it away. Ronaldo looked very disappointed with that from his position at the back post.
58'
Jonny and Nolito combine impressively down the left but the latter just lets the ball get away from him inside the box, and Pepe manages to remove the threat. It's still swinging in the balance, this one.
56'
Illarramendi slides a pass down the channel for Bale, who is called offside. The Welshman had a go at goal anyway, but his clipped effort towards the far corner was horribly wide.
55'
Carvajal looks to break through the centre of the pitch but Hernandez tactically brings him down before things get out of hand for his side.
53'
Arbeloa enters the game and replaces J. Rodríguez.
James is down and seems to have picked up an injury. Seconds before he had signalled to the bench that he needed to come off. Arbeloa comes on as his replacement.
51'
That would have been lovely! Benzema scoops a pass over the defence for Ronaldo, but the Portuguese was in an offside position. It may be just as well for him, because after controlling with his chest he blazed his effort off target.
50'
Madrid have an opportunity to break but Benzema's pass out to the left for James is overhit, and the Colombian is unable to stop it from going out for a throw in by the halfway line. That was a tad sloppy from the Frenchman, who was brilliant in the first 45 minutes.
48'
Another clumsy challenge from Kroos sees him concede a free kick in the Celta half. Hernandez takes it quickly, spreading the play out to Nolito in space on the left. The former Barcelona man tries to dribble his way into the box but is again shown down the line by Carvajal, who plays the ball off him for a goal kick.
46'
We are back underway! No changes at half time from either side.
JUST WIDE! Orellana's first real involvement of the game sees him pick up the ball in space on the edge of the box. He then looks to bend a shot inside the far post, which bounces just wide of the target!
45' +2
There goes the whistle to bring the half to a close.
45' +1
Ramos fouls Orellana as we enter the only additional minute at the end of the half. Celta are awarded a free kick which Nolito will take sends to the back post, but again it evades all the green shirts inside the box.
45'
Again it is taken short, with Nolito passing inside for Krohn-Dehli. The Dane takes a touch before releasing a shot that swerves away from goal and completely misses the target.
44'
Nolito fizzes it into the box but none of his team-mates are able to connect. Celta do keep the pressure up, though, and Larrivey wins another free kick for his team out on the left.
43'
Kroos is a bit too keen to close Hernandez in the middle of the Madrid half, and he catches the Chilean. Celta take the resultant free kick short, and Nolito wins his side a corner.
41'
Marcelo gets to the byline and cuts a cross back for Benzema at the back post. The Frenchman would have had a simple tap in had Johnny not been there to make another important clearance.
39'
ALVAREZ SAVES AGAIN! James is teed up for a shot from 18 yards and he looks to pass it into the bottom corner. The lack of pace on the ball makes it easier for the keeper to get down and parry it behind.
38'
J. Rodríguez gets yellow.
Madrid concede their first foul of the game, with James going into the book for a late challenge on Mallo. His touch let him down and allowed the right-back in, there.
36'
Penalty goal scored by Cristiano Ronaldo for Real Madrid!
GOOOOOAAAL!! Ronaldo slides the spot-kick into the bottom corner, sending Alvarez the wrong way. That is his 21st Liga goal of the season, and he has now scored in 17 consecutive league games at the Bernabeu.
35'
Nolito gets yellow.
Jonny gets yellow.
Nolito earns a booking for his protests, and they may have been justified. Contact on Ronaldo was minimal! The Portuguese will take the penalty, though.
34'
PENALTY TO MADRID! Marcelo clips a cross into the box for Ronaldo, and he goes down under a challenge from Jonny! The left-back goes into the book.
33'
JAMES! A quick break from Madrid again, with Benzema once more creating it with a pass down the right. Ronaldo is the recipient, and he gets his head up to find James in the box. His pass is slightly behind the Colombian, who ignores the run of Bale and opts to go for goal. His low, curling effort is held by Alvarez, though!
31'
Celta are continuing to press high but not quite in the same unitary fashion that the began the game with. Madrid are, therefore, still able to pick their passes and find space in the middle.
29'
STAT: Tonight represents Ramos' 300th Liga appearance for Real Madrid. That is some achievement for the centre-back.
27'
GOOD SAVE! Marcelo pings a fantastic cross-field ball for Ronaldo, who breaks into the box and lashes a low shot towards Alvarez's near post. The keeper reacts quickly, diving down and tipping the shot around the post.
26'
Krohn-Dehli feeds Larrivey at the top of the box but the Argentine's control does not create him enough space to get a shot away. He sends it back to the Dane, who then tees up Orellana. The Chilean also refuses to shoot, though, and so the ball is played back to restart the move.
24'
It is Bale who strikes it, and he completely balloons the ball over the top. He didn't generate the dip and swerve that he was clearly looking for from the way he struck that.
23'
Mallo clips the heels of Ronaldo as he receives the ball in a central position, 35 yards out from goal. The Portuguese and Bale may fancy their chances from here.
21'
Benzema makes a great run to the near post and Bale picks him out with an incisive pass. The Frenchman goes for the cutback from an acute angle but Cabral tracked him all the way and made an important interception.
20'
Nolito receives the ball from Larrivey out on the left, and he dribbles towards the box. He attempts to wriggle his way between Illarramendi and Carvajal but just can't find that gap, eventually running it out of play.
18'
RONALDO! Brilliant from the Portuguese, but he fails to find the back of the net. Illarramendi's cross finds the former Manchester United man at the back post, and he opts for an acrobatic shot at goal. His overhead kick is executed perfectly, but it whistles narrowly over the top!
17'
Good play from Celta! Hernandez looks to combine with Larrivey and work his way into the box, but the move breaks down. The visitors quickly regain possession and the Chilean lofts a pass over the top of the defence. There is just slightly too much on it!
16'
The rain is really pouring in Madrid, now. It is going to make the surface extremely slick.
15'
Celta are looking to hold onto the ball now and halt the momentum being gained by the hosts. A stray pass from Fontas nearly gifts los Blancos possession in a dangerous area, but Cabral is on hand to mop up.
13'
GREAT CHALLENGE! Benzema has been superb early on, creating play and moving intelligently. He frees James down the left and the Colombian bends a fantastic low cross towards Ronaldo at the back post. The Portuguese looks sure to convert but Jonny slides in to clear it away!
12'
James bends a cross in from the left, which Ronaldo cushions down for Bale. The Portuguese is adjudged offside, however, and it looks to be the correct call.
11'
G. Cabral gets yellow.
Cabral picks up a yellow card for a late challenge on James in the centre circle. The referee did a good job by playing the advantage before pulling the play back.
10'
RAMOS SHOULD SCORE! Kroos' corner is met by Ronaldo, and Alvarez gets down to stop his header from finding the net. He parries it straight to the feet of Ramos, but the centre-back slices his shot from six yards and skews it wide of the target!
9'
Carvajal makes a great run in behind the defence and is fed by Benzema. The right-back tries to find Ronaldo at the back post but Mallo intercepts and nods behind for a corner.
8'
Larrivey is picked out in acres of space on the right and he has Orellana and Hernandez to aim for at the back post. He finds neither, though, and a fantastic opportunity evaporates.
7'
Kroos strides through the middle, urging his side forward. The ball is shifted out to the right but the eventual cross into the box from Bale is too close to Alvarez, who dives down to smother it. Madrid starting to gain momentum, though.
5'
Ronaldo comes across to the right and breaks to the byline before clipping a cross to the back post. It is slightly beyond Bale so he has to jump and stretch to try and divert it goalwards with his touch. He is unable to steer it on target, though, and the move breaks down.
4'
Celta’s last win at the Bernabeu came back in November 2006, as they defeated a Madrid side including Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos 2-1.
2'
Celta are pressing very high up the pitch and looking to force Madrid into some early errors. Ronaldo eventually gets on the ball and spins away from his marker before playing in Benzema. The Frenchman moves it out wide to Bale, who looks for a one-two to get into the box. He receives it, but his cross is far too deep and goes out for a throw in on the far side.
1'
We are underway at the Bernabeu!
Hello and welcome to tonight's LIVE coverage of Celta Vigo's visit to the Santiago Bernabeu to face Liga leaders Real Madrid. Carlo Ancelotti's men are in fine form and will be hopeful of extending their current club-record run of 17 consecutive victories in all competitions. The Galician side have been impressive on the road this season, though, so it will be no easy feat for the hosts. My name is Tom Webber, and I will be guiding you through all the action.
Madrid's current winning run stretches all the way back to September, and with just three games remaining until they jet off to participate in the Club World Cup they will be keen to maintain it. However, Celta are enjoying a positive campaign. Eduardo Berizzo's men are just one point off the European places and have only been defeated once on their travels in La Liga this season. The Galicians have already been victorious at Camp Nou and earned a point at the Vicente Calderon.
REAL MADRID TEAM NEWS: Ancelotti made a number of changes for the midweek Copa del Rey meeting with Cornella, but tonight's squad has just one change from their last Liga outing. Asier Illarramendi comes in for the suspended Isco, while Sami Khedira and Luka Modric remain sidelined due to injury.
CELTA TEAM NEWS: Just like his counterpart, Berizzo made wholesale changes for the cup game against Las Palmas on Tuesday. The Galicians were defeated 2-1, so revert to a more familiar line-up tonight. Their only change from the 1-0 defeat at home to Eibar last weekend sees Pablo Hernandez replace Alex Lopez.
Real Madrid (4-3-3): Casillas; Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo; Kroos, Illarramendi, James; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo.
Real Madrid substitutes: Navas, Varane, Coentrao, Arbeloa, Nacho, Medran, Chicharito.
Celta (4-3-3): Alvarez; Mallo, Cabral, Fontas, Jonny; P. Hernandez, Radoja, Krohn-Dehli; Orellana, Larrivey, Nolito.
The Celta fans may not be best pleased to see the name of Ronaldo in the Madrid line-up tonight. The Portuguese has faced the Celestes five times, scoring an typically astounding total of nine goals in those outings. He will be eager to add to that tonight and improve upon his 20 league goals already this campaign.
The teams are out from the tunnel, both sporting shirts with an anti-violence message as clashes between two groups of ultras led to the death of a Deportivo fan last weekend.
Los Blancos are in their traditional all-white kit, while Celta don their alternate green colours tonight. Norwegian world chess champion, and Madrid supporter, Magnus Carlsen, takes an honorary kick off before we get underway.
HALF TIME - Real Madrid 1-0 Celta: The visitors started strongly, pressing high and forcing Ancelotti's men to play a direct game. However, los Blancos still created openings, although it was a penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo which put them ahead. It is because of that that they lead at the interval. Join me in 10 minutes for the second half!
The teams are back out on the pitch, so the second half will begin in a few moments.
FULL TIME - Real Madrid 3-0 Celta: After a positive start from the Galician outfit, Ronaldo eventually worked his magic. The Portuguese netted a new record 23rd Liga hat-trick, taking his league tally to 200 for los Blancos. The visitors worked hard, but were had no answer for the formidable forward. That is all from me, Tom Webber, for this evening. Thanks a lot for joining me.
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