Celta Vigo 1-3 Real Madrid: Rafael Benitez's side go three points clear at the top

Real Madrid moved three points clear at the top of the Primera Division after clinching a 3-1 win at previously unbeaten Celta Vigo.

Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring after just eight minutes and Danilo doubled the visitors' lead midway through the first half, but Madrid were again grateful to goalkeeper Keylor Navas, who produced three stunning saves.

Celta were reduced to 10 men in the second half with the dismissal of Gustavo Cabral but finally managed to beat Navas in the 86th minute thanks to a magnificent strike by Nolito, only for Marcelo to stretch Madrid's lead late on.

The hard-fought victory leaves Madrid as the only unbeaten team in the league and takes them three points ahead of Celta. Barcelona can join Madrid on 21 points if they beat Eibar on Sunday.

Madrid had earned a morale-boosting if uninspiring goalless draw at Paris St Germain three days earlier, and boss Rafael Benitez named an almost identical side for the trip to Vigo, only replacing Isco with the recovered Luka Modric.

The Galicians, who had beaten the likes of Villarreal, Sevilla and Barcelona in an unbeaten run of eight matches, made a slow start to the game, barely venturing into Madrid's half in the opening minutes, and quickly found themselves a goal down.

Casemiro recovered the ball high up the pitch and played in Lucas Vazquez down the left. The 24-year-old pulled the ball back to Ronaldo, who needed just one touch to rifle home and score his seventh goal of the league campaign.

The goal sprang Celta into life and they nearly hit back a few moments later, with Navas producing his first outstanding save of a stellar afternoon, tipping Fabian Orellana's curling shot around the far post.

Celta believed they would find an equaliser but their ambition was their undoing. They left too many men committed and were again caught out on the break.

Jese found space on the left wing and played a precise cross-field ball to Danilo, who took advantage of the space around him to calmly curl the ball past Sergio Alvarez and score his first goal for Madrid.

Celta refused to wilt but Navas rose to block a deflected shot from Iago Aspas with his fist, a wonderful save that he managed to better later in the half. With the break approaching Nolito sailed a free-kick into the box which was met by Pablo Hernandez's head, but Navas dived backwards to claw the ball away from goal.

Celta's frustrations at being unable to turn their chances into goals boiled over just before the hour mark. Hernandez fouled Sergio Ramos and was cautioned, irking the already booked Cabral, who was given a second yellow card for his protests.

But Celta kept going and pulled one back through a stinging, curled effort from Nolito which smashed into the top corner, although only just beyond the reach of Navas.

The hosts had 10 minutes including stoppage time to find an equaliser but instead conceded a third, Marcelo stroking the ball home from close range on another Madrid counter.