Real Madrid twice had to claw their way back as they were held to a 2–2 draw by Elche in La Liga, with Los Franjiverdes earning only their second positive result in their last eight home league meetings against Los Blancos at the Estadio Martínez Valero.

Elche played with an admirable boldness from the outset, highlighted by Álvaro Núñez casually dribbling through danger inside his own penalty area. But Madrid were quick to remind the hosts of their firepower, as Kylian Mbappé fired fractionally wide after being picked out by Raúl Asencio.

Unfazed, Elche continued pressing forward. André Silva nodded a Germán Valera cross just past the upright, and Grady Diangana saw his effort blocked moments later. Their best early opportunity fell to Rafa Mir, who was released by Silva after Héctor Fort dispossessed Álvaro Fernández, but Thibaut Courtois stood tall to deny him.

Madrid had chances of their own, with Asencio heading wide from a Trent Alexander-Arnold corner and Arda Güler combining neatly with Fran García before skimming the post with an imaginative strike. Still, Elche kept pushing, and only Dean Huijsen’s recovery prevented Silva’s pass from finding Mir after the Madrid defender had initially misjudged a long ball.

Mbappé was thwarted by Iñaki Peña following a heavy touch and later saw a volley blocked by the keeper, while Courtois denied Silva again at the other end. David Affengruber then intervened to stop Rodrygo’s shot as an entertaining, chance-filled first half somehow ended 0–0.

Early in the second half, Peña was again called into action to divert a fierce Rodrygo strike. But it was Courtois who was finally beaten in the 53rd minute, as slick interplay from the hosts finished with Valera’s clever backheel releasing Aleix Febas to poke the ball in off the post.

Xabi Alonso reacted swiftly with a triple substitution before introducing Gonzalo García, who headed over soon after entering the fray. Madrid eventually found their equaliser in the 78th minute when Bellingham rose to meet an Alexander-Arnold corner and Huijsen forced the loose ball across the line.

Elche, however, were not finished. Just six minutes later, Álvaro Rodríguez surged forward and unleashed a stunning strike from outside the area to restore the hosts’ lead.

But the drama continued. Bellingham first had a shot saved, then made no mistake with his next attempt, converting from Mbappé’s pass to salvage a point—enough to take Madrid back to the top of La Liga.

Madrid might even have won it late on, but Gonzalo failed to make clean contact on Eduardo Camavinga’s delivery.

Elche’s spirited performance still leaves them winless in six, and they ended the match with 10 men after Víctor Chust received a second yellow card for pulling Mbappé’s shirt.