Real Madrid bag four and Guler scores from own half in win over Elche

[p]Buoyed by beating [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-city/Wtn9Stg0/"]Manchester City[/a] 3-0 in the home leg of their UEFA Champions League (UCL) last-16 tie in midweek, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-madrid/W8mj7MDD/"]Real[/a] certainly had the better of the first half, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/elche/4jl02tPF/"]Elche[/a] recording just one wayward shot on goal.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tchouameni-aurelien/QkiZum3e/"]Aurelien Tchouameni[/a] tested his luck from range early on, skewing his effort wide, before [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rudiger-antonio/rZHXvTho/"]Antonio Rudiger[/a] headed over.[/p][p][b]The defender would do much better with his feet with his next attempt though, as he emphatically volleyed Los Blancos in front as the ball dropped invitingly for him following a free-kick.[/b][/p][p][b]After his exquisite hat-trick against City, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/valverde-federico/nscfER6B/"]Federico Valverde[/a] then produced a finish of equal quality to double Real’s lead before half-time, as he collected [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fran-garcia/tURBbW9S/"]Fran García[/a]’s cross before beautifully curling into the top corner from the edge of the box. [/b][/p][p]It was a finish that illustrated the sheer gulf in class between the sides, and all but ensured that Real’s unbeaten H2H record of 48 years (W13, D3) – and unbeaten home league record against Elche (W21, D4) – would continue.[/p][image alt="Match momentum" id="edfb4409-7273-4c7f-9aad-b528700b10c3" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="1e2e19ca-ba9e-471a-8075-8138959b2d68" original-width="1920" original-height="1080" /][p]The hosts aimed to put the game beyond all doubt early in the second half, and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/diaz-brahim/nm2Qvnyk/"]Brahim Diaz[/a] almost did that as his strike flew inches over.[/p][p]However, Elche were hardly threatening, and so Alvaro Arbeloa decided to take goalscorers Valverde and Rudiger off among other key players, with the crucial second leg against City next in mind.[/p][p][b]Still, Rudiger’s centre-back partner [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/huijsen-dean/2V3qUZAd/"]Dean Huijsen[/a] stayed on the pitch and grabbed Real’s third, as he headed home 18-year-old [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/yanez-daniel/vXKa1kvc/"]Daniel Yanez[/a]’s cross – the latter making just his second senior appearance for the club.[/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/garcia-gonzalo/pWxyEyDA/"]Gonzalo Garcia[/a] almost added a fourth on the break in the latter stages, but [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/dituro-matias/6uLxUVCT/"]Matias Dituro[/a] stuck his leg out well, while Elche managed to score a consolation goal at the other end as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/moran-manuel-angel/67fjsJDM/"]Manuel Angel[/a] unfortunately diverted a cutback off the post and into his own net. [/b][/p][p][b]That was not the end of the goals though, and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/guler-arda/CUU9qDpb/"]Arda Guler[/a] capitalised when Dituro gifted possession away, lobbing the goalkeeper from a considerable distance to complete a very entertaining week at the Bernabeu.[/b][/p][p]With this victory, Los Blancos avoided dropping points in successive home league matches since October 2021. Once again, it’s over to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/barcelona/SKbpVP5K/"]Barcelona[/a], who host Sevilla tomorrow. Meanwhile, Elche still linger dangerously above the relegation zone after an 11th straight La Liga game without victory (D4, L7). [/p][p][b]Flashscore Man of the Match: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/guler-arda/CUU9qDpb/"]Arda Guler[/a] ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-madrid/W8mj7MDD/"]Real Madrid[/a])[/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/elche-4jl02tPF/real-madrid-W8mj7MDD/summary/stats/?mid=pQmFiGsJ"]Catch up on the match stats with Flashcore.[/a][/b][/p]