Elche vs Real Madrid Review
For the second time this season, Carlos Espí scored a last-minute winner as Real Madrid held off a late comeback from Elche to secure a 3-2 victory in LaLiga, bringing them level on points with leaders Barcelona. Madrid aimed to dominate from the start and nearly took the lead within two minutes, but Vinícius Júnior mishit his shot from six yards out. Elche responded strongly, with Tete Morente firing a shot just past the far post.
The home team was relieved when Dean Huijsen, who had scored in both head-to-head matches last season and was one of five changes in Real Madrid’s starting lineup, headed directly at Matías Dituro after leaping to meet a corner. As the first half progressed, chances continued at both ends, with Abiel Osorio blasting over the crossbar on his first start for Elche, and Vinícius missing another good opportunity.
It seemed inevitable that the opening goal would come soon, but it happened under somewhat lucky circumstances when Arda Güler’s free-kick in the 25th minute struck the far post and then deflected off Dituro’s glove, resulting in an own goal. Eight minutes later, Kylian Mbappé extended the visitors’ lead by finishing Yan Diomandé’s cross, marking his seventh LaLiga goal of the season and his first away league goal since February. Shortly after, Mbappé had another goal disallowed for offside. In stoppage time, Thibaut Courtois made a sharp low save from Morente, as Elche found themselves trailing at halftime for the fifth time this season.
Despite this, Los Franjiverdes remained determined, with the energetic Osorio forcing a close-range shot that was deflected behind by Ibrahima Konaté soon after the second half began. Morente then tested Courtois with a long-range shot that narrowly missed, but Elche remained vulnerable to counterattacks. Vinícius had a chance to secure the win during one such break but missed by dragging his shot wide. The Brazilian would regret that missed chance 19 minutes from the end when Osorio headed in Lucas Cepeda’s cross to score his first goal for Elche.
The stage was set for a thrilling finish when Elche earned an equalizer they deserved for their strong second-half effort, with substitute Fer Niño scoring a low shot into the bottom corner seven minutes before the end, leaving Courtois with no chance. Madrid pushed forward in search of a winning goal and found it in the first minute of stoppage time, as Mbappé broke free and passed the ball to Espí, who scored into an empty net.
This win places Madrid just behind Barcelona on goal difference and extends their unbeaten streak against Elche to 20 matches (16 wins, 4 draws). Meanwhile, Martín Anselmi is still waiting for his first victory as manager of Los Franjiverdes, who now sit at the bottom of LaLiga after six games (2 draws, 4 losses).
