Atletico continues to fall behind Madrid rival

Toni Kroos’ late score ensured Real Madrid won its home opener Saturday over a feisty Celta Vigo 2-1, while Atletico Madrid stumbled in a second straight round of the Spanish league.

Atletico was frustrated by a newly promoted side for the second time in a week after Diego Simeone’s bunch drew 0-0 at Leganes. That followed its 1-1 stalemate with Alaves in its opener.

Combined with Real’s two wins, Atletico trails its crosstown rival by four points from the start of what it hoped could be another threeteam title race along with defending champion Barcelona.

Kroos drilled a long-range shot along the turf and in off the post for the 81st-minute winner at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Playing without the injured Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, Madrid took an hour to break through when Alvaro Morata scored a rebound from a save by goalkeeper Sergio Alvarez.

Celta midfielder Fabian Orellana responded with an equalizer seven minutes later.

While Madrid’s Luka Modric, Gareth Bale and Morata all hit the woodwork, Celta squandered dangerous moves that it continued to mount until the final whistle. The visitors only lacked the scoring touch that new Manchester City forward Manuel Agudo provided for the previous three seasons.

Elsewhere, Valencia slumped to a second consecutive loss after falling at Eibar 1-0, while Real Sociedad got on track by winning 2-0 at Osasuna. Barcelona visits Athletic Bilbao Sunday.

ITALY

Juventus won 1-0 at Lazio Saturday in a Serie A match dedicated to the victims of an earthquake in central Italy. Fans in Rome held aloft banners to mourn the nearly 300 people killed in Wednesday’s quake and a minute of silence was observed before kickoff.

Also, Lazio’s shirts featured a message that read “Noi con voi” — “We’re with you” — including an image of the clock tower in the hardest-hit town of Amatrice.

Amatrice and other towns affected are in the Lazio region.

In the 66th minute, Sami Khedira took a pass from Paulo Dybala and angled his shot inside the far post as Lazio’s defence appeared distracted by prized Juventus signing Gonzalo Higuain.