In a run that has now stretched to 20 matches, Real Madrid have still not dropped a point in LaLiga this season whenever they score first.
Their 4–1 win over Elche at the Santiago Bernabéu moved them to within a single point of title rivals and league leaders Barcelona.
Match Report
Coming off a 3–0 victory over Manchester City in the home leg of their UEFA Champions League (UCL) round-of-16 clash during the week, Real dominated the first half, while Elche managed only one off-target effort. Aurélien Tchouaméni tried his luck from distance early on but dragged his shot wide, and Antonio Rüdiger soon after headed over the bar. The defender made far better use of his feet on his next chance, though, striking a powerful volley to put Los Blancos ahead after the ball fell kindly to him from a free-kick.
Following his superb hat-trick against City, Federico Valverde delivered another moment of quality before halftime to double Real’s advantage. He met Fran García’s cross and curled a superb shot into the top corner from the edge of the box. The goal highlighted the clear difference in quality between the two teams and effectively guaranteed that Real’s unbeaten H2H streak of 48 years (W13, D3) — as well as their unbeaten home league record against Elche (W21, D4) — would carry on.
Real looked to seal the result early in the second half, and Brahim Díaz nearly did so when his attempt narrowly sailed over the bar. Elche offered little attacking threat, allowing Álvaro Arbeloa to substitute goalscorers Valverde and Rüdiger along with several other key players, keeping the decisive second leg against City in mind. Still, Rüdiger’s centre-back partner Dean Huijsen remained on the field and scored Real’s third goal, heading in a cross from 18-year-old Daniel Yáñez, who was making only his second senior appearance for the club.
Late in the game, Gonzalo García nearly made it four on a counterattack, but Matías Dituro stretched his leg well to deny him. Elche did manage a consolation when Manuel Ángel accidentally turned a cutback off the post and into his own net. The scoring did not stop there, though, as Arda Güler took advantage of Dituro giving the ball away, lifting a long-range lob over the goalkeeper to cap an exciting week at the Bernabéu.
The win meant Los Blancos avoided dropping points in back-to-back home league matches for the first time since October 2021. Attention now shifts to Barcelona, who host Sevilla tomorrow. Meanwhile, Elche remain precariously close to the relegation zone after going 11 LaLiga games without a win (D4, L7).