Back on track under Solari

– Santiago Solari (above) is pitching for more than just three points as Real Madrid continue their revival and head to Celta Vigo aiming for their fourth straight win.

Solari’s time as the European champions’ stop-gap following Julen Lopetegui’s sacking will expire over the international break, and club president Florentino Perez needs to decide whether to take him on permanently.

Real have bounced back under Solari, with Wednesday’s 5-0 drubbing of Viktoria Plzen a clear indication of that fact.

Victory could be enough to convince Perez the job should be Solari’s, at least until the end of the season, when an alternative could be available.

Madrid have scored 11 and conceded none since Solari’s arrival, against admittedly modest opposition – Melilla from the Spanish third tier, Real Valladolid at home and Plzen.

Luck has also played its part, as Vinicius Junior’s deflected shot prevented what looked set to be a stalemate against Valladolid with seven minutes to play. A draw there and Solari’s tenure might never have got off the ground.

However it was Solari’s decision to bring on the 18-year-old Vinicius, whose youthful exuberance produced an ambitious strike at the end of a weaving run.

Celta will offer a sterner test this weekend. They are the third highest scorers in the division and in Iago Aspas boast the sort of smart finisher Madrid might have signed in the summer.

Aspas’ eight goals this term puts him one up on Lionel Messi, who could return tomorrow after three weeks out with a broken arm when league leaders Barcelona host Real Betis.

Messi was included in the squad to face Inter Milan on Wednesday but was a spectator as his side reached the Champions League knockout stages with a 1-1 draw at the San Siro.

Atletico Madrid head into their clash with Athletic Bilbao today with a dizzying list of absentees.

Diego Costa, Koke, Thomas Lemar, Diego Godin and Stefan Savic were all missing for Tuesday’s impressive 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund, in which Jose Gimenez pulled up with a muscle problem. –

Madrid

Solari has to stay until the end of the season. He’s a great coach.

Karim Benzema Real Madrid striker