Madrid (AP) – Real Madrid averted a surprising defeat in the fight for the Spanish football championship at the last minute on the 22nd matchday of the Primera División.
Thanks to Eder Militao’s goal in the second minute of stoppage time, the royals at least managed to win 2-2 (0-1) against the table-15. FC Moose. Lucas Boyé (42nd minute) and Pere Milla (76th) gave the guests a 2-0 lead. After a hand penalty converted by Luka Modric in the 82nd minute, Militao prevented Real’s third defeat of the season shortly before the final whistle. In the table, Madrid (50 points) lead four points ahead of Sevilla FC.
After the superior hosts missed several big chances, the royal team received a penalty kick. After preliminary work by Toni Kroos, Vinicius Junior moved into the penalty area and was fouled there by Helibelton Palacios. Karim Benzema (33rd) shot the penalty kick over the goal and missed the overdue lead. That took revenge, almost out of nowhere Elche took the lead shortly before the break after a Boyé header – it was the guests’ first chance.
In the 52nd minute there was another penalty for Real, which the referee then took back after video evidence. After that, the favorite pressed for the equalizer, but the right solutions and the last precision were missing. Elche suddenly had it: Milla scored the second goal for the outsider with the third shot on goal of the game. After Modric connected, Real threw everything forward and were rewarded in the end.