Jude Bellingham’s late equalizer allowed Real Madrid to secure a dramatic 2-2 draw against Elche, helping them maintain a slim lead over rivals Barcelona at the summit of LaLiga.
Bellingham found the net in the 87th minute, just three minutes after Álvaro Rodríguez had seemingly positioned Elche for their first victory in six matches with a well-taken goal against his former side.
Elche had led twice during the match, with Aleix Febas’ goal early in the second half being equalized by Dean Huijsen in the 78th minute.
The first half was an exciting affair, yet it ended in a surprising 0-0 stalemate despite numerous chances for both teams.
Kylian Mbappé squandered a golden opportunity after being set up by Raúl Asencio, sending his shot wide. Meanwhile, at the other end, André Silva also missed from German Valera’s cross.
Thibaut Courtois made a spectacular save to prevent Rafa Mir from scoring after Héctor Fort had dispossessed Álvaro Carreras.
Real Madrid faced mounting missed chances as both Asencio and Arda Güler failed to convert opportunities. Elche nearly took advantage in the 27th minute when Silva was one-on-one with Courtois but opted to pass instead of shoot, allowing Huijsen to intervene.
Mbappé had a chance on goal that was thwarted by a poor touch, but Iñaki Peña was there to make the save. The Elche goalkeeper also denied Mbappé again following a cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold that left him unmarked.
The goalkeepers were the key players preventing a first-half goal, and Peña continued his impressive form by pushing away a shot from Rodrygo shortly after the interval.
Instead, it was Elche who drew first blood in the 53rd minute when Febas capitalized on Valera’s backheel to beat Courtois from close range.
In search of a comeback, Xabi Alonso made several substitutions, including bringing on Vinícius Júnior. The Brazilian found himself in a great position in the 72nd minute but chose to pass to Mbappé, allowing Álvaro Núñez to clear the ball.
“We talked about it; [Vinicius] understands his role and the impact he can have,” Alonso stated. “We’re not as happy as we could be, but we’re looking to regain our form and results.”
The pressure from the visitors ultimately paid off in the 78th minute when Huijsen seized on a loose ball after Elche’s failure to clear a corner.
Elche responded admirably, creating chances for both Mir and Martin Neto to reclaim the lead before Rodríguez fired a powerful shot from the edge of the area six minutes from time.
This goal had the home crowd buzzing with the prospect of a first win over Real Madrid since their return to LaLiga in 2013.
However, the match took an unexpected turn when Bellingham scored the equalizer just three minutes later, capitalizing on a defensive lapse from Elche following a free kick, despite Peña’s protest of a foul.
Elche’s situation worsened when Víctor Chust received a second yellow card in stoppage time for a foul on Mbappé.
“It’s football. After a strong run, we’ve had results that don’t meet our expectations,” Alonso remarked. “We’re not satisfied because we always strive to win. However, there are many matches ahead of us, and we must analyze today’s events and focus on the next match.”
“The team continues to compete. Each game’s context is unique. We can improve and remain self-critical; the team spirit is positive. We need to respond in the face of adversity. Unfavorable results invite criticism, and we must adapt. Our goal is to keep improving.”