Elche 2-3 Real Madrid: Carlos Espí to the rescue | OneFootball

Real Madrid beat Elche 2-3 at the Martínez Valero in the match corresponding to Matchday 6 of LaLiga EA Sports. Los Blancos went into halftime with a two-goal lead, but their passivity in the second half gave the home side hope, and Elche managed to level the match. However, when everything seemed headed for a draw, Carlos Espí appeared in the dying moments to give the Merengues the win.

First half

For the league clash, Mourinho opted for Valverde and Tchouaméni as the double pivot, Güler as an attacking midfielder instead of Bellingham, and Diomandé, making his second start of the season, on the right wing. Meanwhile, Martín Anselmi rested Fer Niño for the first time this season and went with Osorio up front.

Once the ball started rolling, Los Blancos began by threatening Elche with a wayward shot from Vinicius that went wide. Just four minutes in came the first booking of the match. Diomandé, beaten by Tete Morente, had to pull back the Cádiz winger to stop a promising move. Tete himself then had Elche’s first chance. His effort, unsuccessful, hit the side netting.

Past the midway point of the first half came the opening goal for Real Madrid. Güler struck the post with a superb free-kick effort that, unfortunately for Elche, ended up rebounding off Dituro’s hand and into the net. 0-1. A few minutes later, Diomandé, from the right flank, played a precise ball into the heart of the box for Mbappé, whose delicate finish sent the ball into the back of the net.

In the closing stages, with Elche looking somewhat stunned, Los Blancos had the chance to put the game to bed. An untiring Diomandé won the ball back in the opposition half and laid it off to Mbappé, who set up Vini for the Brazilian to shoot on goal. Dituro managed to keep it out. However, the home side also had a chance to pull one back before the break through a turning shot from Osorio that went close to the Madrid goal.

Second half

The second half began somewhat flat, without the intensity of the first. Elche were getting into the final third with astonishing ease against an impassive Real Madrid, reminiscent of their second-half display against Rayo. Even so, the home side were unable to make their chances count. Martín Neto tried his luck with an effort that hit the side netting, while Tete Morente fired a powerful shot from 25 meters.

Los Blancos tried to kill off the game through attacking transitions. In one of them, Vinicius, from inside the box, had the chance to wrap things up. However, his wayward effort missed the target. José Mourinho made changes, aware that his side were not putting in a good second-half performance. Brahim and Bellingham came on for Vinicius and Güler.

In the 71st minute, Osorio added some spice to the match. Cepeda, from the right side, delivered a pinpoint cross into the heart of the area for the Argentine striker to rise and pull one back for Elche. 1-2. The Martínez Valero erupted, and just ten minutes later, Elche grabbed the equalizer thanks to a goal from Fer Niño.

In the final moments, Real Madrid seemed to wake up from the lapse they had been stuck in for most of the second half and, after an attacking transition, Carlos Espí, the golden supersub, scored the winning goal for Madrid. As a result, Elche remain bottom of the table, while Los Blancos go to sleep as joint leaders alongside FC Barcelona.

Match details

Elche: Dituro, Revivo, Chust, Redondo, Sangaré (Sánchez 68'); Valera (Lemar 58'), Morente (Josan 80'), Aguado (Cepeda 58'), Villar, Neto (Fer Niño 68'); Osorio.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.