Arda Güler produced a goal of the season contender from inside his own half as Real Madrid romped to a 4-1 victory over Elche on Matchday 28 of LaLiga at the Estadio Bernabéu.
Goals from Antonio Rüdiger and Federico Valverde had put Madrid 2-0 up at half-time, before Dean Huijsen and Güler scored in the second half for Los Merengues, either side of an own goal by Manuel Ángel.
Elche came into the game as one of only three teams across Europe’s top five leagues yet to claim an away victory this season, and on a run of 10 league games without a win. Ahead of their trip to the Bernabéu, Eder Sarabia’s team were winless in 2026 and had not tasted success since their 4-0 thumping of Rayo Vallecano on 21st December.
But, during the opening exchanges, Elche did not look like a side that had not won since 21st December as they settled into the game nicely. The visitors looked assured, enjoying 57% possession during the first twenty minutes, and limiting Real to only one attempt which Aurélien Tchouaméni curled well wide from outside of the box.
However, having failed to register a shot on target inside the opening 39 minutes, Madrid’s attacking ruthlessness came to the fore as they took the lead with their first meaningful chance of the contest. Elche keeper Matías Dituro was unable to parry Valverde’s thunderous free-kick to safety, and the ball eventually fell at the feet of Rüdiger who powered home for his first goal of the season.
Less than five minutes later, Madrid doubled their advantage as captain Valverde scored for the second LaLiga game in succession. Brimming with confidence after his midweek Champions League hat-trick in the 3-0 thrashing of Manchester City, the Uruguayan displayed excellent composure to create space for himself on the edge of the penalty area, before unleashing a stunning curled effort into the top corner.
Braham Díaz squandered a golden opportunity to record his first league goal of the season inside the opening three minutes of the second half, but the Moroccan international skied his effort with only Dituro left to beat.
With half an hour to play, Madrid manager Álvaro Arbeloa was able to rest some of his key players ahead of his side’s trip to Manchester City for the second leg of their round-of-16 tie on Tuesday, with Rüdiger, Vinícius Júnior, Tchouaméni and Valverde all substituted.
Both Diego Aguado and Daniel Yáñez came on to make their first senior appearances this season, and the latter announced himself to the Bernabéu crowd with a gorgeous assist in the 66th minute. The Spanish under-19 international delivered a cross from the right which Dean Huijsen nodded home to erase any hopes of an Elche comeback.
The mood on what was an otherwise perfect night for Real Madrid looked to have been slightly dampened, as Ángel diverted Grady Diangana’s cutback into his own net in the 85th minute, until Güler produced one of the goals of the season less than two minutes from time.
The Turkish international spotted Dituro off his line and unleashed a wonderful left-footed effort from nearly 70 metres out, which lobbed the visiting keeper and bounced into the net to restore Madrid’s three-goal cushion.
Real’s 12th league success at the Bernabéu this season moves them to within a single point of league leaders Barcelona, who host Sevilla on Sunday, while Elche have now failed to win any of their 25 LaLiga meetings away from home against Los Merengues.
Sarabia’s squad remain in 17th position in the standings overnight, although could slip into the relegation zone if results across the rest of the weekend do not go in their favour. Next up for them is a crucial clash at home to Mallorca, who are another team fighting to stay in LaLiga, next Saturday.
Meanwhile, after their European adventures in midweek, Real’s next domestic action sees them welcome city rivals Atlético to the Bernabéu for the Madrid derby on Sunday, in the headline fixture of Matchday 29.
Match Officials: Referee: Jesús Gil Manzano; Video Assistant Referee: Daniel Jesús Trujillo Suárez; Assistant Referee 1: Javier Carlos Martínez Nicolás; Assistant Referee 2: Gonzalo García González; Fourth Official: Pol Gòdia Solé; Assistant VAR Official: Alejandro Muñiz Ruiz
Real Madrid Lineup: Courtois; Carvajal, Rüdiger (subbed for Aguado, 61’), Huijsen, Fran García; Valverde (subbed for Gonzalo García, 58’), Pitarch (subbed for Palacios, 64’), Tchouaméni (subbed for Yáñez, 58’), Camavinga; Brahim (subbed for Manuel Ángel, 63’), Vinícius Júnior (subbed for Güler, 58’)
Elche Lineup: Dituro; Sangaré (subbed for Pedrosa, 23’), Affengruber (subbed for Bigas, 74’), Chust, Pétrot (subbed for Josan, 64’), Valera; Cepeda (subbed for Mir, 64’), Redondo (subbed for Aguado, 64’), Febas; Neto (subbed for Diangana, 74’), Silva