Madrid hail Güler's 'amazing' goal from own half

MADRID — Real Madrid’s 4-1 stroll past Elche on Saturday ended with a moment that will be replayed for years as 19-year-old Arda Güler produced the longest strike LaLiga has witnessed in 15 seasons, a 68.6-metre lob that left goalkeeper Matías Dituro rooted and the Bernabéu roaring in disbelief.

The Turkey international’s effort, arrowed in the 89th minute from inside his own half, sealed a comfortable victory that keeps Madrid within a point of leaders Barcelona ahead of the Catalans’ Sunday fixture. Antonio Rüdiger, Federico Valverde and Dean Huijsen had already put the outcome beyond doubt, but it was Güler’s audacious finish that dominated post-match conversation.

Álvaro Arbeloa, in temporary charge of a youthful Madrid side resting senior stars ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League last-16 return against Manchester City, could barely contain his admiration. “We should frame it and hang it on a wall,” he told Real Madrid TV. “It’s amazing. Wonderful. I saw everyone throw their hands up in amazement, and I did too. It was worth having paid for a ticket, or two or three, to see what he did.”

Elche head coach Eder Sarabia, whose side are sliding down the table after a season of narrow margins, accepted the brilliance of the strike with a mixture of frustration and awe. “We lost the ball unnecessarily, and then one of the best players in the world appears,” he said. “As a football fan, it’s an incredible goal. You need the ability to see it, and then to execute it.”

Saturday’s lineup featured five substitutes aged 21 or under, underlining Madrid’s confidence in their academy pipeline. Arbeloa, a product of the same system, admitted the occasion stirred memories of the fabled Quinta del Buitre generation that dominated Spanish football in the 1980s. “For someone who came up through the youth ranks myself, this is a day of immense happiness and pride,” he added. “It’s a day to remember for Madrid fans.”

Attention now turns to the Champions League showdown at the Etihad Stadium. Arbeloa confirmed that star forward Kylail Mbappé, recovering from a knee sprain, will be tested in Sunday’s training session at Valdebebas. “We’ll try Mbappé out and see how he feels,” he said. “If he can be in Manchester, that will be great news.”