Carlos Espi's 91st-minute goal seals Real Madrid comeback win over Elche 3-2
Synopsis
Real Madrid looked set to drop points in La Liga's sixth round until substitute Carlos Espi combined with Bellingham and Mbappe to slot home in the 91st minute, rescuing a 3-2 win over Elche. Mourinho's side stay level with Barcelona on 15 points — but the late drama exposed defensive frailties that a title challenge cannot afford.
Key Takeaways
Carlos Espi scored a 91st-minute winner as Real Madrid beat Elche 3-2 in La Liga round six.
Kylian Mbappe and Matias Dituro (own goal) gave Madrid a 2-0 first-half lead.
Ariel Osorio and Fer Nino pulled Elche level before Espi's late intervention.
Real Madrid have 15 points from six games, level with FC Barcelona .
Valencia recorded their first win of the season , beating Alaves 1-0 through a Luis Rioja strike.
Rayo Vallecano beat Espanyol 2-1 at Butarque Stadium .
Substitute Carlos Espi struck in the 91st minute to hand Real Madrid a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Elche in the sixth round of La Liga, keeping Jose Mourinho's side level on points with FC Barcelona at the top of the table. Madrid now have 15 points from a possible 18, with Barça set to host Racing Santander on Wednesday.
How the Goals Fell
Real Madrid appeared to be cruising after a dominant first half. Arda Guler's free kick was parried into his own net by Elche goalkeeper Matias Dituro in the 25th minute, and Kylian Mbappe doubled the lead eight minutes later with a header from a Yan Diomande cross. Mbappe had a third goal disallowed for a tight offside call just before the break.
Elche mounted a spirited second-half comeback. Ariel Osorio reduced the deficit with around 20 minutes remaining, getting the better of Dean Huijsen, before Fer Nino levelled in the 83rd minute after a defensive error by Marc Cucurella. With a draw looking certain, Espi combined with Jude Bellingham and Mbappe to slot home the winner in stoppage time.
Valencia Claim First Win Under New Caretaker
Valencia secured their first victory of the season, edging Deportivo Alaves 1-0 under caretaker coach Oscar Sanchez, who took charge of the B team following the dismissal of Carlos Corberan on Sunday. Luis Rioja scored the decisive goal in the 78th minute after a sharp passage of play involving Javi Guerra, though Rioja had to be substituted shortly after through injury. Arnaut Danjuma had a first-half effort ruled out, while Alaves spurned several opportunities to equalise.
Rayo Vallecano End Butarque Exile With Vital Win
Rayo Vallecano opened the day's fixtures with a 2-1 victory over Espanyol at Leganes' Butarque Stadium, ending their enforced exile at the venue on a winning note. Alvaro Garcia struck as early as the 3rd minute, and Adria Pedrosa doubled the lead in the 26th. Raul Fernandez pulled one back for Espanyol in the 54th minute, but Rayo held firm to collect all three points.
Title Race Picture
With Real Madrid on 15 points, the title race remains tightly poised heading into midweek. Barcelona's home clash against Racing Santander on Wednesday could see them move clear or hand Madrid the initiative. Notably, this is the first time this season Madrid have been pushed to injury time to secure a result, hinting at defensive vulnerabilities that Mourinho will need to address.
Point of View
Cucurella gifting Nino the equaliser — against a side fighting relegation is not the blueprint of title-winning resilience. The points tally of 15 from 18 looks impressive on paper, but Barcelona still have the chance to go ahead midweek, and this kind of second-half fragility tends to be punished by stronger opposition. The real story of this round may not be Madrid's win but Valencia's credibility bounce under a caretaker — a signal that the squad has more in it than Corberan's tenure suggested.
NationPress
16 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Real Madrid beat Elche in La Liga round 6?
Real Madrid beat Elche 3-2 on a 91st-minute strike from substitute Carlos Espi, after Elche had levelled at 2-2 from a 2-0 deficit. Arda Guler's free kick (own goal) and a Kylian Mbappe header had given Madrid their first-half lead.
Where do Real Madrid stand in La Liga after round 6?
Real Madrid have 15 points from six games, level with FC Barcelona at the top of La Liga. Barcelona have a game in hand, hosting Racing Santander on Wednesday, which could see them move clear.
Who is Valencia's caretaker manager after Carlos Corberan's sacking?
Oscar Sanchez, the club's B-team coach, took charge of Valencia following Carlos Corberan's dismissal on Sunday. He oversaw the team's first league win of the season, a 1-0 victory over Deportivo Alaves.
Who scored Valencia's winning goal against Alaves?
Luis Rioja scored the only goal of the match in the 78th minute, set up by Javi Guerra. Rioja was substituted shortly after scoring due to injury.
What was the result of Rayo Vallecano vs Espanyol in La Liga round 6?
Rayo Vallecano beat Espanyol 2-1, with Alvaro Garcia scoring in the 3rd minute and Adria Pedrosa adding a second in the 26th. Raul Fernandez pulled one back for Espanyol in the 54th minute but Rayo held on.
