ELCHE, Spain (Interstat) — Elche opened its La Liga season with a 3-2 upset victory over Club Atlético de Madrid on Wednesday at Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero.

Substitute Nicolás González sparked the home side with two first-half goals, including a 34th-minute strike that proved decisive. David Affengruber also scored for Elche. Atlético’s André Silva netted a second-half goal, but the visitors could not complete a comeback.

The match turned in the 30th minute when Atlético’s Thiago Almada was sent off with a red card. Four yellow cards were issued in a contentious span just before halftime. The result defied a pregame projection that heavily favored Elche.