Real Madrid edges past Elche in La Liga match

Real Madrid Secures 4-1 Win Over Elche, Moves Within Point of Barcelona

Real Madrid defeated Elche 4-1 in La Liga on Saturday, with Federico Valverde scoring his fifth goal in three games. The win moves the team to within a point of leaders Barcelona.

Valverde’s goal came just before halftime, as he curled a shot from the edge of the box into the net. Antonio Rudiger had previously scored the opener in the 39th minute, following a scramble in the box from a Real corner. Dean Huijsen then headed home Real’s third goal in the 66th minute.

Elche goalkeeper Matías Dituro was left unmarked in the box for the third goal, allowing Huijsen to score easily. A late own goal by Manuel Angel did not affect the outcome of the game.

In the 89th minute, Arda Guler scored a memorable goal from inside his own half, launching a long lob over Dituro and into the net. The goal was met with applause from the Santiago Bernabeu stadium crowd.

Guler has scored four goals this season for Real Madrid, having joined the team from Fenerbahce in 2023. The win marks a third straight victory for Real, who had lost two consecutive games prior to this run. Interim coach Alvaro Arbeloa led the team to the win, which moves them within striking distance of Barcelona’s four-point lead.

Elche remains in a relegation battle, just a point above third-bottom Mallorca. The game marked a significant improvement for Real Madrid, who are now in contention for both La Liga and the UEFA Champions League titles.

Source: Al Jazeera