Real Madrid secured a resounding 4–1 victory over Elche at the Santiago Bernabéu in their La Liga match.
The home side opened the scoring in the 39th minute through German defender Antonio Rüdiger, who capitalized on a loose ball in the penalty area and slotted it home. Just before halftime, Uruguayan star Fede Valverde doubled the lead in the 45th minute with a powerful shot.
In the second half, Real Madrid continued their dominance, with Spanish defender Dean Huijsen adding a third goal in the 66th minute with a well-placed header.
Elche attempted a comeback but could only manage a consolation goal in the 85th minute when Manuel Ángel inadvertently put the ball into his own net.
With minutes remaining, Turkish star Arda Güler completed the rout with a fourth goal in the 89th minute, a clever shot from the halfway line after the Elche goalkeeper had advanced.
With this victory, Real Madrid increased their points tally to 66, securing second place in the La Liga standings, while Elche remained on 26 points in 17th place.
The truth behind the controversy surrounding Real Madrid’s substitutions
The match sparked controversy after coach Álvaro Arbeloa made six substitutions, which appeared to violate the rules. However, Marca clarified that Elche made an early substitution due to a concussion, which allowed both teams an additional substitution, bringing the maximum to six per team during the match.
