Post by : Maya Rahman

Real Madrid's quest for victory remains elusive as they settled for a 2-2 draw with Elche on Sunday, with Jude Bellingham scoring an equalizer in the 87th minute. The goal came after Madrid displayed resilience by bouncing back twice in the match.

Elche struck first in the 53rd minute when Aleix Febas opened the scoring. However, Real Madrid responded in the 78th minute with a debut goal from defender Dean Huijsen, leveling the match. Just six minutes later, Álvaro Rodríguez put Elche back in the lead, but Bellingham had the final word, netting from inside the box to earn a vital point for his side.

This draw leaves Real Madrid one point ahead of Barcelona, who dominated Athletic Bilbao 4-0 over the weekend. Madrid’s inconsistency has been notable lately, following a 0-0 draw against Rayo Vallecano and suffering a 1-0 loss to Liverpool in the Champions League. Earlier in the season, they boasted an impressive 13 wins from their first 14 games.

Coach Xabi Alonso commented on the team's performance, stating, “We continue to compete. Our results and gameplay can improve, but the commitment remains strong. It’s essential to push through tough times. This is Real Madrid; we endure criticism and strive to improve.”

Moreover, forward Vinícius Júnior came off the bench, and Alonso praised his understanding of the game, noting, “He knows his role and is a significant influence on the team. Everyone is eager to regain our winning form.”

Elche is now in 11th place, having not won in their last six matches. The game concluded dramatically as Elche’s Víctor Chust received a red card in stoppage time.

In other matches, Atletico Madrid edged past Getafe 1-0 due to an own goal by Domingos Duarte in the 82nd minute. This victory marks Atletico’s fifth consecutive win across all competitions and underscores their strong performance under Diego Simeone. Veteran midfielder Koke celebrated a milestone with his 700th appearance for the club, amidst injuries to key players like goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

In additional La Liga fixtures, Real Betis drew 1-1 with Girona, with a late equalizer by Valentín Gómez. Meanwhile, Oviedo faced Rayo Vallecano in a goalless draw, staying winless for seven matches.

Real Madrid's next challenge is against Olympiakos in the Champions League on Wednesday, where Bellingham's pivotal late strike could provide a morale boost as they seek to stabilize both in La Liga and Europe.

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