In a streak that is now 20 games strong, Real Madrid are still yet to drop a point when scoring first in LaLiga this season, after beating Elche 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu to go within a point of title rivals and league leaders Barcelona.
2025/2026 La Liga
4-1
Match Report
Buoyed by beating Manchester City 3-0 in the home leg of their UEFA Champions League (UCL) last-16 tie in midweek, Real certainly had the better of the first half, with Elche recording just one wayward shot on goal. Aurélien Tchouaméni tested his luck from range early on, skewing his effort wide, before Antonio Rüdiger headed over. The defender would do much better with his feet with his next attempt though, as he emphatically volleyed Los Blancos in front as the ball dropped invitingly for him following a free-kick.
After his exquisite hat-trick against City, Federico Valverde then produced a finish of equal quality to double Real’s lead before HT, as he collected Fran García’s cross before beautifully curling into the top corner from the edge of the box. It was a finish that illustrated the sheer gulf in class between the sides, and all but ensured that Real’s unbeaten H2H record of 48 years (W13, D3) – and unbeaten home league record against Elche (W21, D4) – would continue.
The hosts aimed to put the game beyond all doubt early in the second half, and Brahim Díaz almost did that as his strike flew inches over. However, Elche were hardly threatening and so Álvaro Arbeloa decided to take goalscorers Valverde and Rüdiger off among other key players, with the crucial second leg against City next in mind. Still, Rüdiger’s centre-back partner Dean Huijsen stayed on the pitch and grabbed Real’s third, as he headed home 18-year-old Daniel Yáñez’s cross – the latter making just his second senior appearance for the club.
Gonzalo García almost added a fourth on the break in the latter stages, but Matías Dituro stuck his leg out well, while Elche managed to score a consolation goal at the other end as Manuel Ángel unfortunately diverted a cutback off the post and into his own net. That was not the end of the goals though, and Arda Güler capitalised when Dituro gifted possession away, lobbing the goalkeeper from a considerable distance to complete a very entertaining week at the Bernabéu.
With this victory, Los Blancos avoided dropping points in successive home league matches since October 2021. Once again, it’s over to Barcelona, who host Sevilla tomorrow. Meanwhile, Elche still linger dangerously above the relegation zone after an 11th straight La Liga game without victory (D4, L7).
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
11' Tchouameni receives a precise pass and shoots, but his effort flies wide
24' Fran Garcia is down in the box under a challenge but the ref takes no action
35' Rudiger mistimes his header and sends the ball high over the bar
40' GOAL! Rüdiger is in the right place to make a cool finish! Real Madrid 1-0 Elche
41' Tchouameni is down in the box but there is no penalty
44' GOAL! Valverde fires the ball into the top right corner! Real Madrid 2-0 Elche
48' Brahim makes a yard for himself and takes a shot that goes just over the bar
58' Tchouameni and Valverde goes off, Daniel Yanez and Gonzalo Garcia on
60' Rudiger is replaced by Diego Aguado
66' GOAL! Huijsen nets a header as Daniel Yanez assists! Real Madrid 3-0 Elche
79' Gonzalo Garcia gets one-on-one with the keeper, but his effort is saved
83' Rafa Mir's header from a close range goes high over the crossbar
85' OWN GOAL! This is definitely not what Manuel Ángel wanted! Real Madrid 3-1 Elche
87' Guler close to scoring after he unleashed a powerful shot which goes wide
89' GOAL! Güler ends his goal-drought as he scores a stunner! Real Madrid 4-1 Elche
Line-ups
Real Madrid XI: Courtois, Carvajal, Rudiger, Valverde, Brahim, Fran García, Tchouameni, Vinicius, Camavinga, Dean Huijsen, Thiago Pitarch
Subs: Alexander-Arnold, Lunin, Manuel Ángel, Güler, Gonzalo García, César Palacios, Sergio Mestre, Daniel Yáñez, Diego Aguado
Elche XI: Matías Dituro, Andre Silva, Aleix Febas, Léo Pétrot, Víctor Chust, Germán Valera, David Affengruber, Martim Neto, Lucas Cepeda, Federico Redondo, Buba Sangaré
Subs: Bigas, Josan, Tete Morente, Gonzalo Villar, Rafa Mir, Pena, Grady Diangana, Pedrosa, Marc Aguado, Alejandro Iturbe, Álvaro Rodríguez, Yago Santiago