Espí's late winner at Elche and Mbappé's Ceuta tribute answer

Espí won it in stoppage time

Elche 2–3 Real Madrid. You got the three points in the 90th minute and change. Jude Bellingham drove forward, Kylian Mbappé carried it on, and Carlos Espí finished for the winner (2) (3).

Fer Niño and Osorio scored for Elche to drag them back into it. Marc Cucurella's error nearly cost you, and he was spared being the story by Espí's finish (3).

That is 15 points from 6 games, and second place in La Liga, one point off the top. Form is W L W W W.

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Mbappé: "It hurts me a lot"

Mbappé has spoken for the first time about the pre-match tribute to Ceuta at Elche (1) (2). He half-wore the "Todos somos caballos" shirt, and he was not comfortable doing it.

"It hurts me a lot," he said (1). The win got buried by the row: the talking point after Elche 2–3 Real Madrid was what happened before kickoff, not what happened at the end (2).

Ultras Sur demand apologies

Ultras Sur, the far-right Real Madrid ultras group, put out a statement demanding apologies from Mbappé, Vinicius and Ibrahima Konaté (4). Their complaint: the three players masked a message of support for Ceuta.

Next up: the derbi at Atlético

You go to Atlético Madrid on Sunday, kickoff 16:15 CEST. Diego Simeone's side warmed up by beating Osasuna 4–0, and he called out Cuti Romero for praise afterwards (5) (9).

One break for you: Julián Álvarez is a serious doubt for the derbi (8).

Diomande back in the Ivory Coast squad

Hervé Renard has named Yan Diomande in his first Ivory Coast squad since returning as head coach (6). Renard dismissed the doubts about the Real Madrid forward's international future.

Arsenal linked with a Real Madrid player

Mikel Arteta and Arsenal are reportedly targeting a Real Madrid player to strengthen their squad (10). Unconfirmed, and no name attached to it yet.

Fan reactions

The mood on r/realmadrid is half transfer dream, half grievance. One post insists JJ Gabriel wants to join and calls Real Madrid his dream, while a long thread asks what the Negreira case will actually mean for the club and how Barcelona's PR survives it. There is little talk of Elche at all.

https://www.reddit.com/r/realmadrid/comments/1widvoa/what_do_you_think_will_be_the_outcome_of_the

Sources

  • 1. sportnieuws.nl — Stervoetballer Kylian Mbappé reageert op ophef na 'half' eerbetoon: 'Dat doet me veel pijn'
  • 2. telegraaf.nl — Kylian Mbappé onthult waarom hij deelname aan veelbesproken Real Madrid-steunactie voor Ceuta weigerde
  • 3. mundodeportivo.com — Cucurella se salvó de salir retratado por su grave error
  • 4. rmcsport.bfmtv.com — Soutien à Ceuta: des ultras d'extrême droite du Real Madrid réclament des excuses à Mbappé, Vinicius et Konaté
  • 5. marca.com — Un aviso para lanzarse al derbi
  • 6. africasoccer.com — Herve Renard backs Real Madrid’s Yan Diomande after questions over Ivory Coast place
  • 8. news.google.com — Julián Álvarez, en seria duda para el Derbi ante el Real Madrid - FOX Deportes
  • 9. ole.com.ar — Simeone tras la goleada del Atlético: el gran elogio al Cuti Romero y el clásico contra el Real Madrid el próximo domingo
  • 10. fichajes.net — El objetivo del Arsenal en el Real Madrid
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