Real Madrid clinched a narrow 3-2 victory over Elche in a dramatic La Liga encounter at the Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero, with Turkish international Arda Güler making a significant impact and being named Man of the Match.

Güler, starting for Real Madrid, was instrumental in the win, notably scoring a magnificent free-kick goal that helped secure three crucial points for Jose Mourinho’s side. The result saw Real Madrid increase their tally to 15 points, placing them level at the top of the league with Barcelona.

Güler’s Standout Performance

Arda Güler’s contribution was a highlight of the match. His left-footed free-kick from outside the box elegantly curled past the wall, struck the far post, and found the back of the net, marking a memorable moment in the game. Beyond his goal, Güler demonstrated his playmaking abilities by delivering a superb through pass that put Vinicius Jr. in a goal-scoring position, though the Brazilian could not convert it. He also took a corner kick that led to Dean Huijsen’s header, saved by the Elche goalkeeper, and had a powerful long-range shot after another corner that went over the bar. Towards the end of the match, Güler was substituted for Brahim Diaz and Jude Bellingham, having left a clear impression as the game’s standout player, according to Fanatik.

Match Drama and Controversial Calls

The match itself was a rollercoaster of emotions. Real Madrid initially took a commanding 2-0 lead with goals from Kylian Mbappe, assisted by Yann Diomande, and Carlos Espi. However, Elche staged a strong comeback, scoring two goals in the 71st and 83rd minutes to level the score at 2-2, with Josan assisting Fer Nino for the second equaliser. Carlos Espi then sealed the victory for Real Madrid by scoring the winning goal in extra time, making it 3-2.

The encounter was also marred by several controversial refereeing decisions by Jesus Gil Manzano, who was heavily criticised by the Spanish platform “Archivo VAR” with a low rating of 3 out of 10 for his performance. Key incidents included a denied penalty appeal for Elche after Konate’s alleged handball, which “Archivo VAR” deemed not a foul as the arm was in a natural position. Real Madrid also felt aggrieved by unpunished challenges, including Elche’s Osorio appearing to elbow Dean Huijsen and a “hard intervention” on Arda Güler by Chust, which received no foul call, according to Goal.com.

Real Madrid’s Position

Before the match, Real Madrid were positioned second in the league with 12 points, while Elche occupied 19th place with just 2 points. This hard-fought victory allowed Real Madrid to maintain their strong challenge at the top of La Liga.