Juanma Trueba

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10 de marzo de 2013 22:44h

Reaching perfection is not just a simple question of willpower. Celta de Vigo went into Sunday's match with the ambitious intention of putting in a perfect game - pressurizing their rivals high up the pitch, employing pass-and-move tactics and an offside trap which, for the opening half hour, were more than adequate means of keeping Real Madrid in their place. But as the game wore on, the wind was taken out of their sails and their perfect plans fell to pieces.

Enthusiasm lasts less than talent and even star player Iago Aspas is not a one-man band. Celta expected Aspas to produce the goods on the right wing, on the left wing and as their sole reference in the box. That's like asking someone to sing, dance and play the harp all at the same time and even Aspas cannot live up to such grand expectations on his own.

For Madrid, as we all know, it's a different story. On the whole, they do not relay on tactics alone or enthusiasm. All they do lack is patience because as time wears on, they will always find the key to unlock rival defences - a though-ball from Özil or a glanced header from Benzema...

It was the same script on Sunday. Celta could have scored just 15 seconds after kick-off -with a helping hand from Albiol. Aspas was only denied from doing so by Diego López. A few minutes later, Celta tried to beat him by shooting low but the keeper responded, hauling his giant frame to the floor to smother efforts from Aspas and Alex López - with the same agility and lightness of a dog catching a bone.

Abel's team continue to press, a la Barça, whilst lacking a pure, out-and-out striker - without a Gudelj, a Penev, a Baltazar or a Mido - just with Aspas.

The game suddenly took on a different tone. A Cristiano shot - Madrid's first effort on target, prompted a barrage of attempts on Celta's goal - all of which were parried, blocked or finger-tipped away by the superb Javi Varas.

The Celestes looked even more confused in the second half. Maybe they understood what their problem was but were incapable of resolving it. They continued to surge forward, leaving themselves exposed at the back until Cristiano was the first to react to a deflection, to poke the ball into an empty net from six yards out.

But Celta are not a side who go down so easily. Within seconds, Aspas had pounced on a loose ball to put them back level to put Madrid back where they started. Varas brought Kaká down, a penalty was awarded and Cristiano restored the visitors' lead, sending the keeper diving in the opposite direction.

From that moment until the final whistle, Celta had three gilt-edged chances to level the score - including a Park header which grazed the top of the cross bar. But to have equalized, they would have needed another 10 similar chances.