Real Madrid took care of business in LaLiga Round 28, beating Elche 4-1 at the Bernabéu. Goals from Antonio Rüdiger, Federico Valverde, Dean Huijsen and a late Arda Güler strike wrapped up three points. Elche’s only reply came from a Manuel Ángel Morán own goal.

Madrid were sharper in both boxes. Despite Elche edging possession, the hosts produced more quality chances and put six shots on target to the visitors’ one, per Sofascore.

First-half platform

Rüdiger opened the scoring on 39 minutes with a true centre-back’s dream, reacting first inside the area and finishing with authority for 1-0. Valverde doubled the lead just before the break, guiding home after a Fran García cut-back on 44 minutes.

That two-goal cushion fit the flow. Madrid had five first-half shots to Elche’s one and created the only big chance before halftime. Jesús Gil Manzano kept his cards in his pocket early and let it run.

Bench shift seals it

After the interval, Madrid’s changes cranked up the tempo. Teen midfielder Daniel Yáñez came on and promptly delivered a pinpoint cross that Huijsen headed in at the near post for 3-0 on 66 minutes.

Elche pulled one back on 85 minutes when Morán turned the ball into his own net. Any nerves lasted about four minutes. Güler, who had been lively since coming on, curled in a left-footed finish on 89 minutes to restore the three-goal margin.

Numbers that tell the story

– Real Madrid 14 shots to 11, with a 6-1 edge on target
– Expected goals: Madrid 1.25, Elche 0.84
– Duels won: Madrid 54 percent, Elche 46 percent
– Crosses were not the route here, both sides completed just two

Madrid also went 28 of 47 on long balls, which helped them flip field position and find runners early. Elche had more touches in the box, but Madrid were far more efficient when they got there.

Who stood out on Sofascore

Arda Güler came off the bench and grabbed the headline with a goal and all-action cameo, earning a Sofascore Rating of 8.3. Valverde scored and posted 7.8, while Rüdiger’s opener and tidy distribution brought him 7.7. Huijsen paired a commanding defensive showing with his header for 7.6. For Elche, Aleix Febas and Federico Redondo were the pick of the bunch at 6.9.

Matías Dituro finished with a 6.0 as Madrid’s finishing outpaced the underlying save numbers. Thibaut Courtois was barely tested, facing just one shot on target.

The flow and the fallout

Elche had to replace Buba Sangaré with an injury inside 23 minutes, and that reshuffle did not help a back line under pressure from Madrid’s rotations. Bookings followed for Germán Valera, David Affengruber and Rafa Mir as the visitors chased. Eduardo Camavinga saw Madrid’s lone yellow.

Madrid’s mix of academy energy and senior assurance worked nicely. If you want every touch, heatmap and Sofascore Rating in one place, the Sofascore match page has you covered.