Real Madrid avoided a third straight defeat on Sunday after Jude Bellingham delivered a dramatic 87th-minute equalizer in a tense 2-2 draw against Elche in La Liga. The English midfielder stepped up once again, helping Madrid come from behind for the second time in the match to rescue a crucial point away from home.
Elche, determined and energetic, twice took the lead, putting pressure on a Madrid side struggling for form in recent weeks. Despite controlling long stretches of the game, Madrid needed Bellingham’s brilliance to prevent another painful loss and extend their winless streak to three matches.
The draw pushes Real Madrid one point ahead of Barcelona, who had returned to the revamped Camp Nou the previous day with a commanding 4-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao.
Madrid entered the fixture after consecutive setbacks — a goalless draw against Rayo Vallecano in the league and a narrow 1-0 defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League group stage. Before this rough patch, Xabi Alonso’s men had enjoyed a blistering start to the campaign, winning 13 of their first 14 matches.
Speaking after the match, Alonso acknowledged the frustrations but praised the commitment of his squad.
“The team continues to compete,” he said. “The results and our game could be better. We are self-critical, but the spirit of the team remains strong. We must persevere through adversity. This is Real Madrid — we have to live with criticism.”
With Bellingham continuing to deliver decisive moments, Madrid will hope to rebuild momentum as the season intensifies.
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