Real Madrid: 5 players who must shine against Celta Vigo

Real Madrid will face Celta Vigo at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday night, and here are five players who must shine for Los Blancos.

Eden Hazard could make his return to the starting lineup on Sunday against Celta Vigo, but it’s more likely that Real Madrid’s star man features off the bench as a way of getting him ready for the upcoming Champions League Round of 16 fixture against a reeling Manchester City.

While Real are heavy favorites against Celta Vigo at home this weekend, they cannot let their guards down against any team in La Liga. Celta may be relegation candidates in 17th place, but after Real’s loss to Mallorca in October, Zinedine Zidane won’t pump the brakes against any team in the league.

Here are five players who must shine for Los Blancos in order for the league’s leaders to pick up three more points in their quest for the title.

CB Raphael Varane

Real Madrid center back Raphael Varane has been arguably the best player at the position this season, cleaning up danger whenever it presents itself and showing his usual calmness next to Sergio Ramos as part of one of the world’s top back fours.

Varane will need to be mistake-free again this weekend when Real face Celta Vigo, as the opposition have one of La Liga’s top strikers in Iago Aspas. He’s a clinical finisher and a tactically intelligent player who absolutely punishes mistakes. Aspas has eight goals this season and would love nothing more than to add to his tally at the Santiago Bernabeu.