Elche put Real Madrid on the ropes, but Jude Bellingham's late equalizer rescued a point for the La Liga leaders in a thrilling 2-2 draw at the Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero on November 23, 2025. Elche, who are currently 11th in the league, twice took the lead, threatening to secure their first victory against Real Madrid in 47 years. However, Bellingham's late intervention ensured that Real Madrid remained top of La Liga, one point ahead of Barcelona.

The match was an exciting affair, with chances for both sides in the first half. Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappé had several opportunities, but Elche's goalkeeper, Iñaki Peña, denied him on each occasion. Elche also posed a threat, with Rafa Mir forcing a save from Thibaut Courtois and André Silva having a shot blocked.

Elche finally broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute through Aleix Febas, who finished off a well-worked team move with a precise shot past Courtois. Real Madrid responded in the 78th minute when Dean Huijsen prodded home after Bellingham had won an aerial challenge from a corner.

However, Elche regained the lead just three minutes later through Álvaro Rodríguez, who fired a low shot into the bottom corner. It appeared that Elche were on course for a famous victory, but Bellingham had other ideas. In the 87th minute, the England midfielder met a cut-back from Mbappé and calmly slotted the ball into the net to level the scores.

In the seventh minute of added time, Elche's Victor Chust was sent off for a second yellow card after a foul on Mbappé. Despite the late red card, Elche held on for a point, which they might feel disappointed about, considering how close they were to a win.

Real Madrid's draw extended their winless run to three matches in all competitions. Prior to the draw against Elche, they had drawn 0-0 with Rayo Vallecano and lost 1-0 to Liverpool in the Champions League. Despite the recent dip in form, Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso remained positive, saying, "The team continues to compete. We're self-critical. The results and our game can improve, but the spirit remains strong".

The draw sees Real Madrid edge one point ahead of Barcelona at the top of La Liga. Barcelona had defeated Athletic Club 4-0 in their first game back at the renovated Camp Nou.

Jude Bellingham's late equalizer was his third goal in his last four La Liga appearances. The 22-year-old has been in excellent form this season, and he is quickly becoming a key player for Real Madrid.

Real Madrid will now turn their attention to their Champions League match against Olympiacos on Wednesday. Elche, meanwhile, will look to build on their performance against Real Madrid as they seek to climb the La Liga table.