Chicharito at the double to help Real Madrid sink spicy Celta Vigo
He's gone from being an unwanted extra to a crucial part of Real Madrid's side in just a couple of days. Javier Hernandez is a decent reflection of where his team are at right now. The Mexican probably doesn't know where that is, with Carlo Ancelotti saying after the game that if he keeps up this form, his place in the team will be non-negociable. That would have left Hernandez wondering why he'd not been given the chance to show it in the first place.
This shaky, insecure victory over Celta Vigo at Balaidos showed off the best and worst of Los Blancos. There were clear fragilities, problems that need solving if they are to keep on Barcelona's tail and go for their 11th Champions League title.
Asier Illarramendi filled in for the injured Luka Modric and was way off the pace, hampered by his lack of minutes so far this season, and the fact that he's probably not quite good enough for Madrid. The midfield was chewed up by Eduardo Berizzo's well-drilled and highly skilled Celta Vigo side, who were thriving in attack.
Nolito was having a stormer, like he did against Barcelona, and he squeezed between Dani Carvajal and Illarramendi to work space for a shot, firing inside Iker Casillas' near post to open the scoring. It made for a hell of a game, with Toni Kroos pulling Madrid level when Cristiano Ronaldo's cross was half-cleared to 15 yards. The German drilled home, sparking a period of Madrid pressure. It paid off, with Hernandez fed by James Rodriguez, the Mexican drilling past Sergio Alvarez to send Madrid ahead.
But with Los Blancos' midfield leaking, Celta Vigo were soon back on level terms. Santi Mina, just 19, raced clear, firing a strike off the post after losing Marcelo. The left-back and Raphael Varane followed the ball, nobody followed the striker, and he fired home to make it two goals apiece.
Madrid struck again, shortly before the break, when a wonderful piece of skill by Isco saw Ronaldo dart foward towards the box. His pass found James, whose shot from the edge of the area was deflected into the far corner by Fontas.
The second half continued in the same vein of the first - with Celta Vigo dazzling. Fabian Orellana was the victim of a clumsy challenge in the box from behind by Toni Kroos. Although the midfielder got a bit of the ball, it was a dangerous tackle and could have been a penalty.
Madrid took full advantage, with Hernandez being put through by a brilliant Sergio Ramos pass and burying it, to make it six goals in eight starts, one every 83 minutes. An excellent goalscoring rate, but is he good enough to play week-in, week-out for Madrid? Probably not. Will it do between now and the end of the season? As Ancelotti says, if he carries on like this, he can't be dropped.
