Jude Bellingham once again proved the difference-maker as Real Madrid snatched a dramatic late draw at Elche, firing home Kylian Mbappé’s cut-back with three minutes remaining to secure a 3-3 thriller and send Xabi Alonso’s side back to the top of La Liga.
The England midfielder’s late intervention capped a rollercoaster evening at the Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero, where Madrid twice fell behind but twice fought back.
Bellingham brilliance and late drama
Bellingham’s finish was the headline, but his influence ran deeper: the 22-year-old scored and assisted, continuing a purple patch that has seen him find the net in three of his last four league outings.
Dean Huijsen had earlier prodded home from Bellingham’s knockdown to level the contest, while Kylian Mbappé supplied the decisive pass that ultimately rescued a point for the visitors.
The late equaliser ensured Madrid left with a hard-earned share of the spoils after a pulsating contest.
Elche fight back twice
Elche, buoyed by a fervent home crowd, twice took the lead. Aleix Febas opened the scoring eight minutes into the second half, poking a low effort past Thibaut Courtois and in off the right-hand post.
The hosts then surged back in front through Álvaro Rodríguez, whose low strike from the edge of the box looked to have sealed a famous victory and put Elche on the brink of their first win over Madrid since 1978.
End-to-end entertainment
The match swung from end to end. Mbappé threatened throughout the first half, forcing saves from Iñaki Peña, while Trent Alexander-Arnold in a right wing-back role came close to creating openings for the French forward.
Elche had their moments too, with Rafa Mir and André da Silva testing Courtois before the interval. After the break, Rodrygo rattled the crossbar and Courtois produced another fine stop to keep Madrid in the hunt.
Red Card and repercussions
Tempers flared late as Elche were reduced to ten men when Víctor Chust picked up a second yellow for a foul on Mbappé in stoppage time.
The dismissal added a bitter edge to a night Elche will remember for their spirited display and near-miss, while Madrid will take heart from their resilience and the fact the point lifted them above Barcelona in the table.
Real Madrid issued an apology before kick-off after mistakenly using a photo of André da Silva in a tribute video for Diogo Jota and his brother.
Alonso’s squad now turn their attention to the Champions League, with a trip to Olympiacos next on the calendar on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, at 20:00 GMT.
