MADRID: Zinedine Zidane’s second spell as Real Madrid coach got off to a promising start with a 2-0 home win over Celta Vigo in La Liga on Saturday thanks to goals from Isco and Gareth Bale, who had fallen out of favour with previous coach Santiago Solari. Spain midfielder Isco was handed his first start in the league since October by returning hero Zidane and broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute by tapping in a low cross from Karim Benzema at close range. Luka Modric had a goal ruled out for offside earlier in the second half and Bale, who had struck the crossbar in the first period, sealed victory with a shot in off the post in the 77th minute, further lifting the mood at the Santiago Bernabeu. Real are third in the standings with 54 points after 28 games, two behind second-placed Atletico Madrid who lost 2-0 at Athletic Bilbao on Saturday, and nine points adrift of leaders Barcelona. This was not quite as resounding a performance as the 5-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna in Zidane’s first game as Real coach in 2016. Published in Daily Times, March 18th 2019.