Overview
- Aleix Febas put Elche ahead before Dean Huijsen equalised, Álvaro Rodríguez restored the hosts’ lead, and Jude Bellingham made it 2-2 in the 87th minute from Kylian Mbappé’s cutback.
- Real Madrid move to 32 points, one ahead of Barcelona, after coming from behind twice but failing to win for a third straight match in all competitions.
- Xabi Alonso rotated heavily with a makeshift back line as Trent Alexander-Arnold made a rare start, with several regular defenders unavailable through injury.
- Elche maintained their strong home form with a deserved point at the Martínez Valero, where they have been difficult to break down this season.
- Elche finished with 10 men after Víctor Chust’s late second yellow, and coach Eder Sarabia complained that Vinícius Júnior fouled goalkeeper Iñaki Peña before Madrid’s second equaliser.