In a thrilling turn of events in La Liga, Real Madrid edged past Elche with a last-minute winner, pulling level on points with rivals Barcelona at the league’s summit. The match, held on Tuesday, saw Madrid initially take a commanding lead before Elche mounted a spirited comeback, only for a late goal by substitute Carlos Espi to seal a 3-2 victory for the visitors.
Real Madrid seemed poised for a comfortable evening after Arda Guler’s free-kick, which deflected off Elche’s goalkeeper Matias Dituro, and a subsequent goal by Kylian Mbappe, who capitalized on a cross from Yan Diomande, put them two goals ahead. However, Elche responded after halftime, with Abiel Osorio reducing the deficit by heading in a cross from Lucas Cepeda, setting the stage for Nino’s dramatic equalizer in the 83rd minute.
The match looked to be heading towards a draw until Madrid’s coach, Jose Mourinho, made decisive substitutions, bringing on Carlos Espi and Endrick to inject fresh energy into the attack. Espi, who joined from Levante this summer and has already made a name for himself with a late winner against Espanyol earlier in the season, was at the right place at the right time. He latched onto a pass from Mbappe at the back post to secure the win in stoppage time, marking his second crucial goal for the club.
This victory marks Madrid’s fifth win in six league outings, placing them neck and neck with defending champions Barcelona, who are set to face Racing Santander next. Meanwhile, the league saw other significant results, with Valencia clinching their first win of the season against Alaves and Rayo Vallecano overcoming Espanyol 2-1.