Bellingham’s Late Strike Saves Real Madrid Against Elche

Key Takeaways:

• Real Madrid drew 2-2 away at Elche, marking their third consecutive match without a victory
• Jude Bellingham netted an 87th-minute equaliser, following a contentious incident involving Vinícius Júnior and Iñaki Peña
• Los Blancos’ lead over Barcelona at the top of La Liga after round 13 has been reduced to just one point

Match Overview and Dramatic Finish

Real Madrid’s winless streak extended to three matches last night, as they were held to a 2-2 draw against Elche in a gripping La Liga contest. The stalemate, coupled with their prior goalless draw against Rayo Vallecano and a 0-1 defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League, has left Los Blancos with a slender one-point advantage over Barcelona at the league summit. The match saw Jude Bellingham rescue a point in the 87th minute, with his equaliser arriving after a controversial moment where Vinícius Júnior collided with Elche goalkeeper Iñaki Peña, resulting in Peña sustaining a bloodied nose. Match officials ruled the goal would stand despite Elche’s protests.

Real Madrid draw 2-2 at Elche which means the gap at the top of La Liga closes to one point.

They are without a win in their last three games in all comps 📉🙃 pic.twitter.com/dYi5E06K1e

— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 23, 2025

First Half – Missed Chances for Both Sides

Both teams entered the contest with much at stake, and the first half illustrated their determination. Real Madrid, who notably left Vinícius Júnior and Federico Valverde out of the starting lineup, opted for a defence-heavy formation, deploying five natural defenders, including Trent Alexander-Arnold. Fran García advanced down the left flank with Álvaro Carreras positioned in support.

The opening ten minutes saw Rodrygo and Mbappé register dangerous attempts on goal, though neither could break the deadlock. Elche responded emphatically in the 17th minute, as Rafa Mir found himself one-on-one with Courtois, only for the Belgian international to intervene after a lapse by Carreras. Real’s Arda Güler then came close in the 25th minute, sending his shot over after a slick exchange with Fran García. Elche continued to spurn golden opportunities, with André Silva failing to capitalise when through on goal three minutes later, opting to pass rather than shoot.

Real Madrid created further chances, with Mbappé twice denied by Iñaki Peña in quick succession around the half-hour mark. Elche’s André Silva saw another effort thwarted by Courtois in the 38th minute, as both teams entered the break goalless despite a flurry of openings.

Second Half – Four Goals, Controversy and Late Drama

The second period erupted into action almost immediately. Rodrygo tested Peña once more before Courtois kept out a threatening Elche cross in the 52nd minute. Moments later, Aleix Febas – a Real Madrid youth product – surged forward to slot past Courtois, handing Elche a 1-0 lead in the 53rd minute.

Manager Xabi Alonso responded promptly, introducing Vinícius Júnior, Valverde, and Camavinga, and Los Blancos increased their attacking intent. Vinícius squandered a promising chance in the 73rd minute. In the 77th minute, Real were denied an equaliser by the crossbar, seconds before Dean Huijsen found the net to level the score at 1-1 in the 78th minute.

Despite Real’s momentum, Elche retook the lead in the 84th minute through substitute Álvaro Rodríguez, another Madrid academy product. However, Jude Bellingham responded just three minutes later, bringing the scores level at 2-2 following the disputed goalmouth clash between Vinícius and Peña.

Final Moments and Next Fixtures

Real nearly snatched victory at the death, as substitute Álvaro García missed an open goal in stoppage time. The closing minutes saw Elche’s Victor Chust dismissed for a second yellow card. The draw concludes Real Madrid’s trio of consecutive matches away from home, with three more on the horizon: Olympiacos in the Champions League (26 November), followed by visits to Girona (30 November) and Athletic Bilbao (3 December).