Carlos Espi scored a 91st-minute winner as Real Madrid survived an almighty scare to win 3-2 at Elche in LaLiga.
Jose Mourinho’s men appeared on course for a routine win after a Matias Dituro own goal and a strike from Kylian Mbappe put them in command at Estadio Martínez Valero.
But Elche showed remarkable character to fight back and put themselves on the cusp of a share of the spoils, Abiel Osorio and Fer Nino erasing Madrid’s advantage.
Yet the hosts were arguably victims of their ambition as they were caught on the counter in stoppage time, Mbappe squaring for Espi to tap in and prevent Madrid suffering another damaging early setback in the LaLiga title race.
The win moves Madrid level on points with Barcelona at the top of LaLiga. Hansi Flick’s side host Racing Santander on Wednesday.
Madrid survive massive scare
Madrid’s sole slip-up so far this season came in their last away game, a 1-0 defeat to Real Betis, and there were early warning signs in Elche that they would be in for another difficult encounter despite the hosts failing to win any of their opening five games.
Elche started the game brightly, with Tete Morente firing narrowly wide before Osorio powered over the bar as two early chances went begging.
Vinicius Junior skewed wide with the goal seemingly at his mercy at the other end, but Elche were made to pay for their profligacy when Arda Guler curled a superb free-kick in off the post, though he was not given credit for the goal as the ball flicked off Dituro’s hand on the way into the net.
And Madrid’s lead was doubled eight minutes later as Yan Diomande was sent through down the right, with the Ivory Coast winger then producing a perfectly weighted cross for Mbappe to slot home.
The Madrid talisman required treatment following a collision with the goalkeeper in the act of scoring, but he was involved as Madrid almost made it 3-0. Mbappe laid the ball off for Vinicius following a quick Los Blancos break, but Dituro was equal to his low effort.
Mbappe appeared to have doubled his tally and given Madrid a three-goal advantage after he latched onto a throughball and rattled home at the near post, but the France star was denied by the offside flag.
Osorio lashed wide on the turn as Elche sought a route back into the contest, with Morente then stinging Courtois’ palms from long rage.
Morente went close with another ambitious effort that flew narrowly wide, though the hosts were fortunate that Vinicius’ disappointing night in front of goal continued when he spurned another chance by steering a first-time effort off target following good work from Guler.
Elche got the goal their second-half showing deserved in the 71st minute as substitute Luis Cepeda got to the byline and dug out an inviting left-wing cross, which the impressive Osorio headed back across goal and beyond Courtois.
Twelve minutes later Elche completed the comeback. Thomas Lemar and Josan combined well to tee up Nino, who calmly produced an unerring strike into the far corner.
That goal seemed to spark Madrid back into life, but it looked as if they would drop more points on their travels when Espi fired wide on the turn.
But Espi, a match-winner at Espanyol in Madrid’s first game of the season, could make no mistake with a simple finish after Jude Bellingham played Mbappe through on goal and he unselfishly put the ball on a plate for the substitute to seal victory.
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