Late Bellingham strike salvages a point, but the league leaders’ winless run extends to three games.
Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso admitted his team “aren’t happy” after a frustrating 2-2 draw with a determined Elche side on Sunday, a result that tightens the title race and increases the scrutiny on his squad.
Despite a late equalizer from Jude Bellingham, Madrid were left ruing another missed opportunity. The draw means their lead at the top of La Liga has been slashed to a single point, with arch-rivals Barcelona breathing down their necks.
The match was a rollercoaster in the second half. Elche’s Aleix Febas broke the deadlock, only for Madrid defender Dean Huijsen to level the score with 12 minutes remaining. The home crowd erupted six minutes later when Alvaro Rodriguez put Elche back in front, but Bellingham had the final say, firing in late to claw back a point for the visitors. Elche’s Victor Chust was sent off in injury time during a frantic finish.
This stalemate extends a worrying trend for Madrid, who have now failed to win any of their last three matches across all competitions.
The team selection again raised eyebrows, with star forward Vinicius Junior starting on the bench. Addressing the decision in his post-match press conference, Alonso sought to explain his thinking. “We spoke about it, [Vinicius] understands it, he knows the role and the impact he could have. We’ve done it other times,” Alonso stated, referencing a similar situation against Getafe.
While acknowledging the disappointment, the manager pointed to the demanding schedule ahead as a chance for redemption. “It’s football. After a good run, now we’ve had some results that aren’t what we want,” he said. “We aren’t happy, because we always want to win. But now we have a lot of games before the end of the year, and we have to think about the next one.”
Alonso insisted the team’s spirit remains strong despite the recent criticism. “The team is still competing… We can improve, we’re self-critical, but the team spirit is still good. We have to respond to adversity.”
Madrid now travel to face Olympiacos in the Champions League, where they will be heavy favourites against the struggling Greek side. Attention then swiftly turns to a crucial league fixture away at Girona next Sunday, a match that now carries significant weight in the early title race.
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