Real Madrid drew 2-2 with Elche in the match that brought them together on Sunday evening, as part of the 13th round of the League, at the “Martinez Valero” stadium.
Real Madrid’s goals were scored by: “Dean Huijsen” and “Jude Bellingham” in the (78th, 87th) minutes.
In contrast, Elche’s goals were scored by: “Álex Febas” and “Álvaro Rodríguez” in the (53rd and 84th) minutes.
With this result, Real Madrid’s score rose to 32 points, topping the League standings by one point ahead of Barcelona, who are in second place.
While Elche’s score reached 16 points, placing them thirteenth in the standings.
Real Madrid’s squad witnessed the participation of “Rodrygo Goes” alongside “Kylian Mbappé” in the attack, while the duo “Vinicius Júnior” and “Fede Valverde” were on the bench.
“Trent Alexander-Arnold” also participated as a starter in the right-back position.
The teams were formed as follows:
Elche: “Pina – Fort – Avengrober – Chust – Nunez – Aguado – German – Febas – Diang – Rafa Mir – Da Silva”
Real Madrid: “Courtois – Arnold – Huijsen – Asensio – Carreras – Garcia – Guler – Ceballos – Bellingham – Rodrygo – Mbappé”
Real Madrid started the match strongly, as “Rodrygo” fired a powerful ball in the third minute that went slightly over the crossbar, announcing the team’s attacking intentions.
“Kylian Mbappé” almost opened the scoring after a pass from “Asensio”, but his shot went past the post.
Elche’s first attempt came in the 13th minute, with a header from “German Valera” that went far from the goal.
Elche’s most dangerous chance was in the 16th minute after a quick attack that ended with a shot from “Rafa Mir” that goalkeeper “Courtois” brilliantly saved.
Real Madrid tried to regain control through set pieces, and “Raul Asensio” almost scored with a powerful header in the 20th minute, but it did not hit the goal.
Then Elche threatened “Courtois'” goal with a cross from “Fort” in the 22nd minute, but the defense intervened at the last moment.
In the 24th minute, Turkish player “Arda Guler” fired a long-range ball that went slightly over the crossbar.
“Mbappé” launched a counter-attack that goalkeeper “Iñaki Peña” saved in the 29th minute, then the same goalkeeper shone again in front of “Mbappé” in the 32nd minute after a cross from “Trent Alexander-Arnold”.
Immediately afterwards, “André Silva” almost scored a goal for Elche, but “Courtois” saved it.
“Mbappé” threatened Elche’s goal again, but goalkeeper “Peña” shone and saved it, while “Diangana” almost surprised “Courtois” with a shot in the 44th minute, had it not been for the defense’s intervention, so the first half ended in a goalless draw.
Second half
The second half began with pressure from Real Madrid, who were looking for an early goal, and “Rodrygo” fired a powerful ball in the 46th minute, but “Iñaki Peña” saved it.
Elche surprised Real Madrid with a goal in the 52nd minute, after a collective play between “Álex Febas” and “German Valera”, where “Valera” passed the ball with a neat heel inside the area, for “Febas” to place the ball over “Courtois”, announcing the home team’s lead.
Real Madrid almost equalized the result in the 71st minute, after a counter-attack led by “Bellingham” that reached “Vinicius”, who sent a cross that an Elche defender cut off at the last moment before it reached “Mbappé”.
In the 78th minute, Real Madrid scored the equalizing goal from a corner kick that “Asensio” rose to meet, setting it up to reach defender “Huijsen”, who put the ball in the net.
In the 83rd minute, “Álvaro Rodríguez”, the substitute, scored the second goal for Elche, after dribbling past “Asensio” and firing a curved ball that settled in the far corner.
Real Madrid pressed, and Elche’s defense saved a dangerous shot from “Vinicius” in the 81st minute.
In the 87th minute, “Jude Bellingham” succeeded in scoring the equalizing goal for Real Madrid, after following up on the ball that rebounded from goalkeeper “Peña” and firing it into the net.
Real Madrid’s pressure continued in the final minutes, but to no avail, and the match ended in a 2-2 draw.
