Carlos Espí scores stoppage-time winner as Real Madrid beats Elche 3-2 after conceding two-goal lead

Late winner at Martínez Valero

Real Madrid secured a 3-2 victory against Elche at Estadio Martínez Valero on Tuesday after surrendering a two-goal advantage in the second half. Substitute Carlos Espí scored the winning goal in the 91st minute, shortly after entering the pitch in the 87th minute alongside Endrick. Jude Bellingham initiated the decisive counterattack by beating an opponent near midfield and finding Kylian Mbappé in space. Mbappé delivered a low pass into the penalty area, allowing Espí to convert from close range and seal the three points for José Mourinho's side.

Early lead and Elche fightback

Real Madrid had established control during the first half. In the 25th minute, an Arda Güler free kick struck the post and rebounded into the net off Elche goalkeeper Matías Dituro for an own goal. Eight minutes later, Mbappé extended the lead to 2-0 by finishing a cross from Yan Diomandé in the 33rd minute. Mbappé received medical treatment on the pitch following the goal before continuing, and had another strike disallowed for offside shortly before the interval. Before kickoff, players carried jerseys supporting a league initiative for Ceuta, though Vinícius Júnior, Mbappé, and Ibrahima Konaté rolled their shirts up to conceal the message.

Elche, managed by former FC Porto coach Martín Anselmi, responded in the second half. Abiel Osorio won an aerial duel against Dean Huijsen to score a 71st-minute header, three minutes after midfielder Martim Neto was substituted. Fer Niño then equalized for the hosts in the 83rd minute with a low strike, completing a two-goal comeback in a 12-minute span before Espí's late decider.

Title race and top scorer standings

The victory lifts Real Madrid to 15 points from six matches, level with defending champion Barcelona at the top of the table. Hansi Flick's Barcelona side hosts Racing Santander at Camp Nou on Wednesday with an opportunity to reclaim an outright lead. Elche remains at the bottom of La Liga in 20th place with two points from six matches, level on points with 19th-placed Villarreal. Mbappé's first-half goal moved him to seven league goals in six appearances this season, placing him one ahead of four chasers in the league scoring race.

Valencia coaching reset and Rayo win

In Tuesday's other La Liga fixtures, Valencia halted a four-game losing streak by defeating fourth-placed Deportivo Alavés 1-0 away from home. Luis Rioja scored the 78th-minute winner for the visitors, who entered the match under interim coach Óscar Sánchez following the dismissals of manager Carlos Corberán and soccer CEO Ron Gourlay over the weekend. The result lifted Valencia out of the relegation zone into 17th place with four points.

Rayo Vallecano also recorded a victory, defeating Espanyol 2-1 with first-half goals from Álvaro García and Adrià Pedrosa. The fixture was Rayo's third consecutive home game played at Leganés' Butarque Stadium due to unsafe conditions at Vallecas, following a 3-2 win against Racing Santander and a draw with Alavés.