Real Madrid flexed their title credentials with a commanding 4-1 victory over struggling Elche at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. Goals from Rüdiger, Valverde, Huijsen, and Güler secured a dominant win for the home side.
Real Madrid entered this La Liga fixture in second place, eager to maintain pressure on the league leaders. With 63 points from 27 games and strong recent form, they were heavy favorites. Visitors Elche, however, found themselves battling relegation, sitting 17th with just 26 points. Their recent record showed a struggle for consistency.
The match began with early intensity. Elche made an unexpected substitution in the 23rd minute, bringing on Buba Sangare. Despite this, Real Madrid began to assert their dominance as the first half progressed.
Antonio Rüdiger broke the deadlock in the 39th minute. The defender found space in the box and expertly slotted home to give the hosts the lead. Just five minutes later, Real Madrid doubled their advantage. Federico Valverde fired home in the 44th minute after a well-worked move. Fran García provided the assist, creating a comfortable cushion for the home side heading into the break.
At half-time, Real Madrid held a significant lead, having controlled much of the opening period. Elche faced a monumental task to get back into the game. They needed a strategic shift to challenge the formidable hosts. Carlo Ancelotti's side looked comfortable, but the second half would still demand focus.
The second half saw a more cautious start from both teams. Real Madrid's Eduardo Camavinga received a yellow card in the 55th minute for holding. Shortly after, Real Madrid made a flurry of changes. Vinicius Junior, Valverde, and Aurélien Tchouaméni were all substituted in the 58th minute, with Arda Güler entering the fray.
The substitutions did not disrupt Real Madrid's rhythm. Dean Huijsen added a third goal in the 66th minute. Daniel Yañez provided the assist for Huijsen's strike, further extending the home side's lead. Elche's efforts were met with frustration, as D. Affengruber received a yellow card for holding shortly before the third goal.
Elche eventually found a way to score, albeit unfortunately for them. An own goal by M. A. Moran in the 85th minute offered a slight consolation. However, Real Madrid swiftly responded. Arda Güler, who had been introduced earlier, scored Real Madrid's fourth goal in the 89th minute. Güler's late strike sealed the emphatic victory.
The statistics painted a clear picture of Real Madrid’s controlled performance. Despite Elche having slightly more possession (53% to 47%), Real Madrid created better chances. They registered 14 total shots with 6 on target, compared to Elche’s 10 shots with just 1 on target. Real Madrid's Expected Goals (xG) stood at 1.09, while Elche's was 0.55.
This decisive win strengthens Real Madrid's position in second place in La Liga. They continue their pursuit of the title with confidence. Elche, meanwhile, remains deep in the relegation battle, needing significant improvements in their upcoming fixtures.
