Five things we learned from Elche 2-3 Real Madrid as Espi shines again
Real Madrid’s dramatic win over Elche highlighted Arda Guler’s rise, Carlos Espi’s growing impact, Vinicius Junior’s uncertain position and Mourinho’s concerns over his side’s second-half collapses.
Real Madrid extended their perfect start to the La Liga season with a dramatic 3-2 victory away to Elche, although Jose Mourinho’s side made life unnecessarily difficult for themselves after surrendering a two-goal advantage.
An own goal from Matias Dituro following a scrumptious Arda Guler free-kick and a finish from Kylian Mbappé after Yan Diomande’s first goal contribution had put Madrid firmly in control, only for Elche to fight back and level the contest.
Carlos Espi eventually rescued the visitors with a late winner, moving Madrid level on points with Barcelona at the top of the table, but beyond the result, the game offered several clues about Mourinho’s team and some interesting selection decisions ahead of Sunday’s Madrid derby.
Here are five important takeaways from the match
1. Vinicius Jr.’s starting spot can’t be guaranteed
Vinicius Junior is facing increasing competition for his place in Real Madrid’s starting XI. The Brazilian struggled to make a significant impact against Elche and has found consistency difficult to achieve during the early stages of the campaign.
His willingness to take on defenders remains obvious, but the end product has not matched the expectations placed on him especially in games of margins.
With several of his attacking teammates currently producing more convincing performances, Mourinho now has a genuine selection dilemma. Although the Brazilian remains an important player, his position as an automatic starter appears less secure than it once was.
2. Arda Guler continues to strengthen his case
While Vinicius struggled, Arda Guler once again showed why he is becoming increasingly important to Mourinho’s plans. The Turkey international was named man of the match after another influential display and has quietly developed into one of Madrid’s most consistent performers this season.
Guler operated through the middle against Elche and looked comfortable in the role. He may eventually move back towards the right, particularly with Jude Bellingham occupying a central attacking position, but his recent performances make a strong argument for keeping him in the starting XI.
His displays against Real Sociedad, Real Betis and now Elche have given Mourinho another selection headache in attack, especially with Vinicius becoming inconsistent and the Madrid derby coming up.
3. Diomande making his presence felt
Yan Diomande’s adaptation to life at Real Madrid is gathering pace. After impressing during the victory over Rayo Vallecano, the summer signing produced another encouraging performance against Elche.
The Ivorian provided his first assist for the club when his delivery helped Mbappe score Madrid’s second goal. His contribution, however, went beyond attacking numbers. He repeatedly showed a willingness to track back and contribute defensively, giving Mourinho a more balanced option on the flank.
With his confidence growing and his influence increasing, Diomande is making a strong case for regular involvement. His emergence could have consequences for the players competing for the other attacking positions, including Vinicius.
4. Espi is becoming Madrid’s late-game specialist
Real Madrid needed a different type of striker after Gonzalo Garcia’s departure, and Mourinho appears to have found an answer in Carlos Espi. The summer arrival from Levante is developing into a useful option capable of changing games when introduced.
Espi had already made an impact earlier in the campaign by scoring the winner against Espanyol. His late strike at Elche was another example of his growing importance, as he produced the decisive moment after Madrid had surrendered their advantage.
His ability to provide a traditional centre-forward presence gives Mourinho an alternative attacking option and recalls the impact Joselu had during Real Madrid’s trophy laden 2023-24 campaign.
5. Madrid’s second-half problems cannot continue
Perhaps the biggest concern from the Elche match was Madrid’s inability to maintain control after half-time. This was not an isolated incident, with Mourinho’s team again allowing an opponent to regain momentum after appearing to have the game under control.
Similar lapses had occurred against Inter Milan and Rayo Vallecano, although Madrid managed to avoid serious punishment in those matches. Elche came much closer to taking advantage, recovering from two goals down before Espi’s late intervention.
Mourinho will know that repeatedly giving opponents a route back into matches is dangerous, particularly as the quality of opposition increases.
With the international break approaching after the weekend, the Portuguese coach will have an opportunity to address Madrid’s game management and ensure their impressive results are supported by more controlled performances.
