Real Madrid seemed to have firmly grasped the victory against Elche when leading by 2 goals after half an hour of play. However, the slowness in the second half caused the away team to lose the advantage. When the match was at risk of ending in a draw, Carlos Espi appeared and created a difference.
Vinicius Junior, Arda Guler and Aurelien Tchouameni left the field in turn as Real Madrid actively slowed down. Elche took the opportunity to rise up. Abiel Osorio narrowed the score in the 71st minute before Fer Nino equalized 2-2 in the 83rd minute.
The home team is now full of confidence, while Real Madrid has difficulty controlling the match. Antonio Rudiger stands outside the touchline with a disappointed face. Jose Mourinho understands that Real Madrid needs more solutions in attack. And Espi is brought on the field.
Just 4 minutes later, the 21-year-old striker scored the decisive goal. Jude Bellingham moved and passed the ball intelligently, opening up space for Kylian Mbappe. The French striker then assisted for Espi to finish, sealing a 3-2 victory for Real Madrid.
This is the second time Espi has become a hero in difficult times. In the opening match of the season against Espanyol, he also scored in injury time to help Real Madrid win. From a name not yet widely known, this young striker is quickly becoming a noteworthy card under Mourinho.
Before moving to Real Madrid, Espi impressed at Levante with 11 goals after 25 matches, contributing to helping this team avoid the risk of relegation. The ability to compete and finish helps him fit into the traditional center forward model. Thibaut Courtois once called Espi a "monster" in training sessions, and his teammates gave him the nickname "Joselu Junior".
The performance of the Spanish striker is particularly impressive. He has only played 42 minutes in La Liga but has scored 2 goals, contributing to bringing 4 points for Real Madrid. No player of the team has a better scoring rate than Espi.
His progress is even more noteworthy if looking back a year ago. At that time, Espi was almost not widely known. After a prominent season with Levante, he caught the eye of Real Madrid and the Royal team activated the release clause to bring this young striker to Bernabeu.
Mourinho also quickly placed his trust in Espi. The Portuguese coach once described his student as a cheerful and reliable player when the team needed him.
Los Blancos still have many problems to solve. Losing the 2-goal advantage against Elche shows that they have not been able to maintain concentration throughout the match, especially when the schedule ahead becomes dense.
However, Espi's appearance brings a big highlight. He is not a regular choice in the main squad, but has proven his ability to take advantage of opportunities and make a difference as soon as he is given the opportunity to play.
With a very long season ahead, Real Madrid may need more moments like that from this young striker. And if Espi continues to maintain his current performance, he will not just be Mourinho's backup option.
