Real Madrid 4-1 Elche: Guler stunner caps thumping win

Real Madrid moved back within one point of LaLiga leaders Barcelona after a thumping 4-1 win over Elche at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Madrid were on target twice in each half, with Arda Guler restoring Madrid’s three-goal cushion with a superb strike from inside his own half in the dying minutes.

The hosts made a slow start but got their breakthrough in the 39th minute, with Antonio Rudiger brilliantly volleying in the rebound of Federico Valverde’s parried drive.

And the Uruguayan continued his own hot streak just five minutes later as he played a lovely one-two with Fran Garcia before bending his strike into the top-right corner from the edge of the box.

Brahim Diaz missed a glorious chance to make it 3-0 shortly after the break, with his effort flying high and wide. But Dean Huijsen did get their third in the 66th minute, peeling off the back of Elche’s defence to glance Daniel Yanez’s cross past Matias Dituro.

With five minutes of the 90 remaining, Grady Diangana rounded Thibaut Courtois to send a low ball across the face of goal, and Manuel Angel slid in, turning it into his own net.

But Guler got Madrid’s fourth four minutes later with an audacious attempt from well inside his own half that easily cleared Dituro and bounced into the empty net.

@10ardaguler just casually celebrating ONE OF THE BEST GOALS OF THE SEASON pic.twitter.com/X0WGsK9FP7

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) March 14, 2026

Data Debrief: Madrid turn on the style

Having shown their worth in the Champions League in midweek against Manchester City, Madrid followed that up with another high-scoring performance.

Valverde, who scored a hat-trick on Wednesday, has now been involved in 21 goals in 46 matches for Madrid this season across all competitions (nine goals, 12 assists), his highest tally in a single campaign with the club.

But without Kylian Mbappe – who remains sidelined through injury – Madrid shared the attacking responsibility, as they had 14 shots and massively overperformed their 1.25 expected goals (xG).