With the match tied and only seconds left, Carlos Espí found the net to give Real Madrid a 3-2 victory over Elche at the Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero. Jude Bellingham set up the winner with a sharp pass, and Espí's finish silenced the home fans. The victory drew Madrid level on points with Barcelona at the top of LaLiga and intensified the title race.
Madrid took the lead in the 25th minute when Elche goalkeeper Matías Dituro scored an own goal, as confirmed by ESPN and other outlets. Eight minutes later, Kylian Mbappé doubled Madrid's advantage with a well-placed shot. Madrid looked in control, but Elche kept fighting.
Elche pulled one back in the 70th minute when Abiel Osorio headed in a cross from Lucas Cepeda. The home crowd came alive. Twelve minutes later, a mistake from Marc Cucurella in Madrid’s buildup gave Fernando Niño the chance to equalize. Niño took it, making it 2-2 with less than ten minutes to go.
Madrid responded quickly. In the final moments, Bellingham and Espí combined in the decisive move, with Mbappé also involved. Mbappé supplied the final pass, and Espí finished to seal the win. The match stayed tense until the final whistle as both teams pushed for a result.
This win came after a stretch in which Madrid’s depth and ability to recover had been questioned. As reported earlier, the club has dealt with injuries and frequent lineup changes, making this hard-fought result in Elche especially impressive for its season.
ESPN statistics show Real Madrid finished with 2.08 expected goals (xG) to Elche's 0.43. Madrid had 54% possession and recorded three shots on target, while Elche had one. Jesús Gil Manzano officiated the match.
Matches like this at Martínez Valero show how small mistakes and late chances can decide games in Spain’s top league. Madrid recovered from defensive errors and took its chances late, keeping the team in the title race. Arda Güler and Kylian Mbappé made basic contributions, while Carlos Espí’s late goal settled the match. Several sources have noted that Espí has scored a late winner for Madrid before this season, adding to his reputation for delivering under pressure.
