Bellingham's 87th-Minute Heroics Save Real Madrid in 2-2 Draw with Elche

When Jude Bellingham poked home a last-gasp equalizer in the 87th minute at Estadio Martínez Valero, it wasn’t just a goal—it was a lifeline. Real Madrid clawed back from two separate deficits to draw 2-2 with Elche CF on Sunday, November 23, 2025, preserving their one-point edge at the top of LaLiga. The match, played under clear skies in the coastal city of Elche, Spain, felt like a war of attrition: gritty, chaotic, and utterly unpredictable. And yet, somehow, Real Madrid walked away with a point they didn’t deserve—but somehow, they earned.

Elche’s Home Fortress Holds Firm—Until It Doesn’t

Elche CF entered the match unbeaten at home this season, and they looked every bit the part. Their defense, compact and disciplined, swallowed up Real Madrid’s early pressure. Then, in the 53rd minute, it cracked. A corner kick from Germán Valera found Febas, who buried it with a thumping header. The home crowd erupted. This wasn’t just a goal—it was a statement. Elche hadn’t beaten Real Madrid at home since 1978. Now, they were within minutes of doing just that.

But Real Madrid, despite missing Eder Militao (adductor strain) and Dani Carvajal (injury), refused to fold. Dean Huijsen, the 20-year-old Dutch defender, stepped up when it mattered most. After a corner kick in the 78th minute, the ball ricocheted off the post, then the keeper, and Huijsen—unmarked—slammed it home. 1-1. The equalizer wasn’t pretty, but it was perfectly timed. It shifted momentum. And then, three minutes later, everything changed again.

The Twist: Rodríguez’s Strike and Bellingham’s Redemption

Just as Real Madrid began to believe they’d steal a point, Álvaro Rodríguez, a former Madrid academy product now wearing Elche’s stripes, struck. A left-footed curler from 25 yards, assisted by Martim Neto, flew past Thibaut Courtois. 2-1. Elche’s first win in six games seemed inevitable. The stadium was shaking. Even the Real Madrid bench looked stunned.

But then came the twist.

Three minutes later, Kylian Mbappé—quiet for much of the match—dropped deep, received a pass from Vinícius Júnior, and fired a low, driven cross into the box. Bellingham, who’d been chasing shadows all night, didn’t even look up. He just stuck out his foot. The ball squirmed under the keeper’s body. 2-2.

It was the kind of goal only a player with ice in his veins could score. No celebration. No theatrics. Just a nod to the bench and a sprint back to center field. That’s Bellingham. He doesn’t need fireworks. He just needs the ball in the net.

Statistical Dominance, Emotional Deficit

Real Madrid controlled the ball—52% possession, 492 completed passes, 20 shots to Elche’s 15. They created six big chances to Elche’s two. Their expected threat (xT) was 6.61, nearly 50% higher than Elche’s 4.56. They dominated the final third with 221 touches. Yet, for all that control, they looked vulnerable. Defensive lapses. Poor passing in transition. A lack of urgency in the final 15 minutes.

Manager Xabi Alonso made five substitutions, including bringing on Vinícius Júnior in the 72nd minute. It was a gamble—and it paid off. But it also exposed a deeper issue: Real Madrid’s midfield, without the injured Eder Militao and with Dean Huijsen struggling for fitness, looked thin. They survived, but they didn’t dominate.

What This Means for the Title Race

Real Madrid now sit on 32 points (10 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss), one point clear of Barcelona, who won their match earlier in the day. That’s not a commanding lead. It’s a thread. And threads snap.

Elche, meanwhile, remain 11th with 16 points. But this result? It’s their best performance of the season. They didn’t just hold Real Madrid—they nearly beat them. And that matters. For a club that’s spent years battling relegation, this was a statement: We’re not just here to make up the numbers.

What’s more alarming for Madrid fans? The lack of clinical finishing. Asencio and Arda Güler both missed clear chances. Andre Silva passed up a one-on-one with Courtois in the 27th minute. These aren’t flukes. They’re patterns.

What’s Next?

Real Madrid’s next match is against Villarreal on November 30, 2025. It’s a tricky away fixture, and Alonso will need his squad healthy. Militao’s return is critical. Carvajal’s absence is a growing concern. And Bellingham? He’s becoming the player they lean on when everything else fails.

Elche, meanwhile, will look to build on this. They’ve now gone six games without a loss at home. They’ve beaten Atlético Madrid on penalties. They’ve drawn with Real Madrid. They’re not just surviving—they’re rising.

Historical Context: A Legacy of Near-Misses

Elche’s last home win over Real Madrid? March 1978. That’s 47 years. And since then, they’ve played Madrid at home seven times—five draws, two losses. This match? It was the closest they’ve come to breaking that streak since 2020, when they drew 1-1. The weight of history hung over the pitch. And for 84 minutes, it looked like Elche might finally rewrite it.

But Bellingham had other ideas.