Real Madrid need late winner from substitute Carlos Espí to beat Elche 3-2 on Tuesday night. Na di second time dis season wey dem call on Espí to save dem. Di game split into two halves: first half Real Madrid dominate totally, but Elche score two late goals to pull level before Espí injury-time heroics.
Arda Güler open scoring for di Elche match with direct free-kick, im first goal for Real Madrid. He become first player to score direct from free-kick for Real Madrid since Rodrygo Goes score against Sevilla on May 27 2023. Na di longest direct free-kick drought on record for Real Madrid history, pass 115 games between 1969 and 1972.
For second time dis season, Real Madrid call on super sub Carlos Espí as late substitute to save game. At Martínez Valero he come on with three minutes normal time remaining, and score with only four minutes on field. Na im second Real Madrid goal with only 26 minutes played, across five appearances. He never play more than 10 minutes wey dem give am on im debut against Espanyol, but e seem say e no need more.
Di Frenchman become first man since Hugo Sánchez in 1987 to score seven goals in six games at start of La Liga season for consecutive campaigns. Before am, Pruden Sánchez na only other man to achieve di feat in 1946. He also join Sánchez and Karim Benzema to become only third Real Madrid player, and only fifth of all clubs, to score against every team he don play against in La Liga, finally scoring against Elche.
Alongside claiming im first assist as Real Madrid player, winger Yan Diomande top charts for both dribbles, with seven, and chances created, with three. He be live wire down right and later switch to left, though im defensive work in build-up to Elche equaliser no likely please José Mourinho on an otherwise ideal night for Ivory Coast international.
Arda Güler join club of players to hit woodwork for Real Madrid this season, although deflection may have been helped across line by Elche goalkeeper Matías Dituro. No other side in La Liga can rival Los Blancos for number of times dem don hit post or crossbar this season. Next highest return belong to Barcelona on four, less than half Real Madrid tally.
Number of chances Real Madrid dey generate this season incredible, but this game produce highest expected goals of any this season for Real Madrid. Lowest return of season still impressive 2.62, and Real Madrid were below that until Carlos Espí had two efforts in injury time rack up 1.01 xG in less than a minute. 2.03 xG come in dominant first half, with only 0.52 xG generated between minutes 46 and 90.
