Guler scores from miles out as Madrid mauls Elche
Arda Guler scored from around 70 metres out as Real Madrid put Elche to the sword in their LaLiga encounter, winning 4-1 to move within a point of leader Barcelona ahead of its game against Sevilla on Sunday (AEDT).
Guler replaced Vinicius Junior off the bench just before the hour mark, and scored his spectacular goal with a minute remaining, firing from well inside his own half to beat Elche goalkeepr Matias Dituro easily, adding gloss to the scoreline.
Madrid started poorly and produced little of worth through the first half until Antonio Rudiger netted in the 39th minute. The defender pounced on a rebound as Dituro saved a free-kick from Federico Valverde, who would score his fourth goal in two matches a minute before the break with another spectacular shot from outside the box to put Madrid into the sheds 2-0 ahead.
Brahim Diaz missed a glorious chance to make it 3-0 shortly after the break, with his effort flying high and wide. But Dean Huijsen did score a third for the hosts in the 66th minute, peeling off the back of Elche's defence to glance Daniel Yanez's cross past Dituro.
With five minutes of the 90 remaining, Grady Diangana rounded Thibaut Courtois to send a low ball across the face of goal, and Manuel Angel slid in, turning it into his own net.
But Guler got Madrid's fourth four minutes later with an audacious attempt from well inside his own half that easily cleared Dituro and bounced into the empty net.
Madrid will look to put Manchester City out of the UEFA Champions League next up when it travels to Etihad Stadium with a 3-0 advantage from the first leg of their Round of 16 clash, courtesy of Valverde's superb hat-trick.
It will follow that with a huge clash in the Madrid derby, with Atletico Madrid travelling to Santiago Bernabeu next Monday (AEDT).
