Real Madrid snatch late win at Elche after five-goal LaLiga thriller

Real Madrid scored in the first minute of stoppage time to beat Elche 3-2 in a dramatic LaLiga match on Tuesday night.

Substitute Carlos Espi struck the decisive goal after replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold in the 86th minute, securing victory for Jose Mourinho’s side at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero.

Real Madrid had appeared in control after moving two goals ahead in the first half. Matias Dituro’s own goal put the visitors in front after 25 minutes, before Kylian Mbappe doubled their advantage eight minutes later.

Elche responded strongly after the interval, with Abiel Osorio reducing the deficit in the 71st minute. Fer Nino then completed the comeback with an equaliser in the 83rd minute.

However, Espi restored Real Madrid’s lead in the 91st minute to settle a contest that had changed direction during the second half.

The result leaves Real Madrid second in the league standings with 15 points from six games. They are level on points with leaders Barcelona, although Real Madrid have played one match more.

Elche remain at the bottom of the table. The draw they had appeared likely to claim would have been only their second of the season, with their other four matches ending in defeat.

Mourinho said his team’s failure to put the game beyond Elche had allowed the visitors to lose control.

“It seems obvious to me. It is easy to understand. There are finished matches in which we have chances to kill, and we do not kill,” he said on Roundtable.

“After not killing, we go from ease to not controlling. We have not scored. When everything seems easy, you leave things undone. The explanation I find is that if the match seems easy and you do not finish it, then you drop it; you lose control; you misinterpret the ease.”

The Real Madrid manager said such a collapse could happen, but insisted his players must recognise that no match is straightforward.

“It can happen. Nothing is easy. The players need to rest; tomorrow they have a day off. If we play badly, from the first to the 90th, the worry is gigantic,” Mourinho said.

“If we have top periods and others are not proactive, without expectation, without intensity. Of course, it worries. But we won.”