Elche 2 - 3 Real Madrid recap - Real snatch injury time winner after Elche come back from two goals down to level

Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid drew level on points with Barcelona at the top of La Liga, with a fifth win of the season.

Los Blancos cruised to a two-goal lead at half-time that could and should have found them out of sight of basement-dwellers Elche.

The first, on 25 minutes, went down as a goalkeeper own goal, but was the result of a sumptuous free-kick that deserved to be credited to the taker. Arda Guler looped his set-piece over the wall, where it bounced off the left-hand post and into the net after grazing Elche’s Matias Dituro.

Real’s second was clearer cut, as Valverde found Dioumande on the right, who in turn picked out the run of Kylian Mbappe. The Frenchman dug out the shot from contact with the keeper, as the ball ran away into the corner of the goal. By half-time, Real were cruising, and could have scored several more, but for several misses from Vinicius Junior.

They would come to regret those sloppy finishes, but only after ruing sitting back in the second half and allowing Elche to come at them.

The home side missed chance after chance until one found the net with 20 minutes left on the clock. Substitute Cepeda’s run attracted Real defenders and made space in the middle, such that when the Chilean dug out a cross, Abiel Osirio had space to leap and head the ball down away from Courtois.

The equaliser came 10 minutes later, as a complacent Real again invited Elche to run at their defence. Lamar found Osirio, who then spotted Fer Nino in the middle where the substitute had time to pick his corner.

That stirred Real into action. The away side went in determined search of the winner, and found it by penetrating the high Elche defensive line.

Mbappe received the ball just inside the home half, sprinted down the left and slid the ball to Carlos Espi in the middle for the 21-year-old to slot home. A lucky escape from a sloppy performance from Real, who have played one more game than Barca.

It all gets a bit handbags at the end, with Villar squaring up against Mbappe. Elche are frustrated with the result after they were sure they had rescued a point.

The Frenchman is too fast, and the check is too heavy to get away with. Is that the five card quota met?

Los Blancos were determined to get back in front, exploit the high line by Elche, as Mbappe runs it down the the left and finds Carlos Espi with the goal as wide open as he'll see it this season. Heartbreak for Elche.

They want the winner, but it's Elche with the momentum.

Espi on for Trent, Endrick replacing Tchouameni.

Complacent from Real, basically inviting their opponents in, Lamar finds Osirio, who spots Fer Nino in the middle in plenty of space who picks his spot low to Courtois' left.

Josan is brought on to relieve the tired legs of Tete Morente.

Running at the box he betwixes Cepeda sufficiently to draw a stabbing out, for which the Chilean picks up a yellow card.

After letting a couple of fouls slide, this one on the Elche goalscorer does for him.

That's why there was the clamouring for Cepeda, who makes an almost instant impact, making it to he byline, almost getting crowded out but hanging up the cross for Abiel Osirio to head down and in.

That should have been a booking as well. What happened to Mr "five bookings a game" referee? He wouldn't have to try to notch up that many, but he's exercising severe restraint.

Real break and Arder Guler puts one on a plate for him, but he strokes it wide with his right. If his finishing was as good as the rest of his game, Vini would have a hat-trick tonight. Or at least one.

From just outside the box, but it's also wide. Real seem content to let him have the space.

Kicking back in his bucket seat rather than prowling the technical area.

He tried to argue it went out off Courtois, but referee Manzano goes with his assistant.

Replacing Aguado and Valera respectively. The first of the those is more popular.

It looked heavy enough to earn a yellow, almost a punishment check, but the referee keeps his cards in his pocket this time.

Hopefully about one of the new players knows where the goal is.

His shot from the middle is always rising, as Real Madrid seem content to sit back in the early stages of this half. And attempts like that will make them feel entirely justified in doing so.