Real Madrid edged a spirited Elche CF 3-2 at the Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero on matchday five of the 2026/27 Spanish La Liga season, with Kylian Mbappé striking late to settle a contest that the visitors twice looked to have under control. The win keeps Los Blancos on the shoulder of the early pacesetters, while Elche were left with the familiar frustration of a brave performance unrewarded against one of Europe's elite.

For long stretches this was not the comfortable away day the scoreline might suggest. Elche pressed aggressively in midfield, refused to sit deep, and twice dragged themselves level after Real Madrid had moved ahead. Only a moment of pure quality in the closing minutes separated the sides on a night when the Martínez Valero produced the kind of atmosphere that makes a trip to the Costa Blanca genuinely awkward for visiting giants.

Match Overview

Real Madrid controlled the opening exchanges and took the lead inside the first quarter of an hour when Mbappé converted from close range after a sharp, low cross from the right flank. Vinícius Júnior had already tested the Elche goalkeeper with an early drive, and the sense was that the champions-in-waiting would quickly turn possession into a rout.

Elche had other ideas. Eder Sarabia's side responded with a high line of pressure that disrupted Real Madrid's build-up, forcing Thibaut Courtois into two uncomfortable distributions under duress. The equaliser arrived just after the half-hour mark, a well-worked move that finished with Rafa Mir sweeping the ball home at the near post after a clever pull-back from the left channel.

Real Madrid restored their advantage shortly after the interval through Vinícius, who cut inside from the left and curled a right-footed effort beyond the diving goalkeeper. But Elche's response was almost immediate in spirit if not in timing, and a second equaliser arrived from a set piece situation that the visiting defence failed to clear decisively. The Martínez Valero erupted, and for a while it looked as though the home side might snatch something historic.

In the end, the individual quality in the visitors' forward line told. Mbappé's late winner, a first-time finish after a disguised pass from the edge of the area, was the sort of goal that separates title contenders from honest mid-table opposition.

Key Moments

• 14' – Real Madrid open the scoring: Mbappé finishes a quick attacking transition from close range after a low ball across the box.
• 22' – Vinícius denied: A driving run from the left ends with a save low to the goalkeeper's right.
• 33' – Elche equalise: Rafa Mir converts at the near post after an incisive pull-back, capping a sustained spell of home pressure.
• 58' – Vinícius restores the lead: The Brazilian cuts inside from the left and curls a finish into the far corner.
• 71' – Elche level again: A poorly cleared set piece falls kindly and is bundled home from inside the six-yard area.
• 88' – Mbappé wins it: The striker finishes first time from just inside the box after a cleverly disguised pass on the edge of the area.

Tactical Story

Real Madrid lined up in their usual aggressive shape, looking to overload the left side and isolate Vinícius against a single defender. Elche countered with a compact mid-block that shifted quickly across the pitch, and their willingness to press in short bursts rather than retreat en masse was the main reason they stayed in the game.

The hosts' most effective weapon was the transition. Every time Real Madrid's full-backs pushed high, Elche looked for the long diagonal into the channel, and they created their best chances from exactly that route. Real Madrid's defensive line was caught square on more than one occasion, and the two goals they conceded both stemmed from moments of hesitancy rather than any sustained territorial dominance from the home side.

Going forward, the champions' movement in the final third was the difference. Elche defended the box reasonably well, but Elche could not legislate for the timing of Mbappé's runs or the precision of the final pass. Real Madrid finished the match with the greater share of possession and a clear edge in shots on target, but the expected-goals margin was narrower than the visitors would have liked.

Standout Players

Kylian Mbappé was the decisive figure, scoring twice including the 88th-minute winner. His movement between the centre-backs repeatedly created separation, and his finishing on the night was ruthless.

Vinícius Júnior was the game's most consistent creative threat, combining a goal with several penetrative dribbles that forced Elche to double up