Real Madrid snatch late win at Elche after surrendering two-goal lead

Carlos Espí scored in stoppage time as Real Madrid secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over Elche in La Liga yesterday (15 September) after letting a two-goal lead slip away.

Jude Bellingham started the decisive move with a clever touch to get past a defender near midfield before sending Kylian Mbappé through on goal. Mbappé then set up Espí, who scored from close range to give Madrid all three points.

The victory moved Real Madrid level on points with Barcelona. The defending champions can move back into the lead when they host promoted Racing Santander on Wednesday.

"We went from having it easy to losing control," Real Madrid coach José Mourinho said. "But in the difficulty of the moment, facing the pressure of losing points, the team reacted and won the match, which in the end is the most important thing."

Madrid took the lead in the 25th minute when Elche goalkeeper Matías Dituro scored an own goal after the ball ricocheted off him following a powerful free kick from Arda Guler.

Mbappé doubled the advantage eight minutes later, finishing from close range after being set up by Yan Diomande.

Elche fought back in the second half. Abiel Osorio headed in during the 71st minute before Fer Niño equalized in the 83rd.

Mbappé briefly appeared to be in pain after scoring but returned to the game following treatment from Madrid's medical staff.

His goal took his league tally to seven in six matches, one more than Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Sergio Camello and Roberto Fernández. Mbappé had scored twice in Madrid's 4-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano in the previous round.

He also had a goal ruled out for offside shortly before halftime.

Bellingham entered the game in the 68th minute, replacing Guler.

Madrid's only league defeat this season came against Real Betis two rounds earlier.

Mbappé and Vinícius remove support shirts

Before the match, players from both teams wore T-shirts carrying messages of support for Ceuta as they entered the field.

However, Madrid players Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior and Ibrahima Konaté did not pull the shirts fully down over their chests, leaving parts of the messages covered. Mbappé and Vinícius removed the shirts before greeting the other players and referees.

They did not immediately explain their actions.

In July, tens of thousands of migrants crossed the border between Spain's North African territory of Ceuta and neighboring Morocco.

Valencia end losing run

Valencia ended a four-match losing streak with a 1-0 victory away to Alaves, also securing their first win of the season.

The poor start had led to the dismissal of coach Carlos Corberán and soccer CEO Ron Gourlay over the weekend. The club then appointed Braulio Vázquez as sporting director and named B-team coach Óscar Sánchez as interim manager.

Luis Rioja scored the winner in the 78th minute for Valencia, which had been outscored 10-1 in its opening matches.

Valencia supporters had protested against the team and called the players "mercenaries" following a 5-0 home defeat to Barcelona. They have also continued to demand the departure of owner Peter Lim.

Rayo Vallecano win again at Butarque

Rayo Vallecano defeated Espanyol 2-1, with first-half goals from Álvaro García and Adria Pedrosa, in what could be its final match at Butarque Stadium before returning to its home ground at Vallecas.

Rayo has played three home matches at Butarque, the stadium of second-tier club Leganes, because of safety concerns at Vallecas. It previously defeated Racing Santander 3-2 and drew 1-1 with Alaves there.

Espanyol's Roberto Fernández scored in the second half, his sixth goal in six matches.