Real Madrid Draw 2-2 at Elche as Bellingham Scores Late Goal

Real Madrid extended their winless streak to three matches after Jude Bellingham scored an 87th-minute equalizer to secure a 2-2 draw at Elche in the Spanish league on Sunday. The dramatic goal came after Madrid had twice come from behind, showing their fighting spirit despite a difficult run of results.

Elche opened the scoring in the 53rd minute when Aleix Febas found the net. Real Madrid responded in the 78th minute through defender Dean Huijsen, who scored his first goal for the club to level the match. However, Elche regained the lead six minutes later with Álvaro Rodríguez putting the hosts ahead, only for Bellingham to strike from inside the area and rescue a point for the visitors.

The draw allowed Madrid to move one point ahead of Barcelona, who defeated Athletic Bilbao 4-0 on Saturday at the renovated Camp Nou. Madrid’s form has been inconsistent in recent weeks, coming off a 0-0 draw against Rayo Vallecano and a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League group stage. Earlier in the season, Xabi Alonso’s team had an impressive record, winning 13 of their first 14 matches.

Alonso spoke about his team’s performance, stating, “The team continues to compete. The results and our game could be better. We are self-critical, but the spirit remains strong. We must persevere in the face of adversity. This is Real Madrid; we have to live with criticism.”

Forward Vinícius Júnior came on in the second half, and Alonso highlighted his role in the team, saying, “He understands his role and the impact he can have. Everyone is energized and eager to get back to a positive momentum.”

Elche, now sitting 11th in the league, has not won in six consecutive matches. The match ended on a dramatic note as Elche’s Víctor Chust received a red card deep in stoppage time.

Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid earned a narrow 1-0 win at seventh-placed Getafe, thanks to an own goal by Domingos Duarte in the 82nd minute. The victory marked Atletico’s fifth consecutive win in all competitions, showing their strong form under Diego Simeone. Veteran midfielder Koke celebrated his 700th appearance for the club. Atletico faced challenges as goalkeeper Jan Oblak and forward Giuliano Simeone were unavailable due to injuries, while Marcos Llorente had to leave the match early because of an injury.

In other La Liga results, fifth-placed Real Betis drew 1-1 with relegation-threatened Girona. Girona took the lead through Vladyslav Vanat in the 20th minute, but Betis equalized in the 75th minute with Valentín Gómez. Betis forward Antony was sent off in stoppage time for striking an opponent with his leg.

Additionally, last-placed Oviedo and 13th-placed Rayo Vallecano played a 0-0 draw. Oviedo’s Ilyas Chaira received a red card in the 52nd minute, and Rayo’s Pathé Ciss was ejected in stoppage time. Oviedo remains without a win in seven consecutive matches, while Rayo has not won in three straight league games.

Real Madrid will look to recover in their next Champions League match against Olympiakos on Wednesday, hoping to regain consistency in both domestic and European competitions. Bellingham’s late heroics may boost team morale as they continue their battle at the top of La Liga.