Espi scores late winner as Real Madrid beats Elche 3-2

Real Madrid secured a dramatic 3-2 victory at Elche on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, after substitute Carlos Espi scored a 91st-minute winner to rescue the team from a squandered two-goal lead. The result moved Madrid level on points with Barcelona at the top of La Liga. Madrid appeared in control after taking a 2-0 lead in the first half. Arda Güler's free kick in the 25th minute struck the post and deflected off Elche goalkeeper Matías Dituro for an own goal. Kylian Mbappé doubled the advantage eight minutes later, heading in a cross from Yan Diomande, the winger's first assist for the club. However, Elche mounted a spirited comeback after the break. Abiel Osorio headed in from a Lucas Cepeda cross in the 71st minute to reduce the deficit. Substitute Fer Nino then equalized in the 83rd minute with a low finish, capitalizing on a defensive lapse. With the match level, Madrid manager José Mourinho made a decisive double substitution in the 87th minute, bringing on Espi and Endrick. The move paid off when Jude Bellingham, who had entered the match earlier, played a key role in the buildup.