Jude Bellingham's 87th-minute equaliser moved Real Madrid one point clear at the LaLiga summit after they came from behind twice to draw 2-2 with 10-man Elche.
2025/2026 La Liga
2-2
Match Report
Having seen Barcelona leapfrog them in the table after they thumped Athletic Bilbao on their Camp Nou return, Madrid survived a frenetic ending to reclaim top spot on Sunday.
The tale of the first half belonged to both goalkeepers, with Thibaut Courtois and Inaki Pena producing a string of stunning stops to keep the game level heading into the break.
Courtois sprang into action to deny Andre Silva with his feet from close range after Alvaro Carreras carelessly turned over possession to Hector Fort down Elche's right side.
At the other end, Pena was also in inspired form, repelling efforts from Kylian Mbappe in quick succession, the latter stop coming from a dangerous Trent Alexander-Arnold cross.
Grady Diangana then thought he had put Elche ahead seven minutes before half-time, but he was met by the towering frame of Courtois who got down low to keep the ball out.
But the Madrid goalkeeper was eventually beaten in the 53rd minute when German Valera's exquisite backheel was expertly finished in off the post by Elche captain Aleix Febas.
However, Dean Huijsen's 78th-minute equaliser sparked a frantic finish at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero that saw both teams cancelled out in the closing stages.
Just five minutes after coming on, former Real Madrid striker Alvaro Rodriguez turned Raul Asencio inside out before picking out the bottom-left corner six minutes from time, but Elche's joy was short-lived.
After seeing his initial effort saved by Pena, Bellingham tucked home Mbappe's cutback in the 87th minute, and despite Elche seeing Victor Chust sent off for a second bookable offence in second-half stoppage time, Madrid were unable to find a winning goal.
Data Debrief: Bellingham delivers on Alonso's call
Ahead of kick-off, Madrid boss Alonso urged his team to try and take the responsibility of scoring goals off the shoulders of Mbappe, and Bellingham came up with the goods to answer his manager's call in the closing stages.
The England international has now found the back of the net in three of his last four LaLiga outings, while he also ended the contest with team-high totals for shots on target (three) and final third entries (10), along with creating two chances for his team-mates.
But in truth, Madrid will certainly see this as two points dropped. They finished with an expected goals (xG) total of 3.33 from their 20 shots, compared to Elche's 1.67 from their 15 attempts, with Olympiacos up next in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Los Blancos also continued their unbeaten stretch away to Elche. They have now collected points in each of their last eight away games against them in the top-flight (W6 D2), their best run against them in LaLiga.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
4' Rodrygo cuts inside on his left foot, has a shot but can't keep the ball down
7' Match Event for Elche vs Real Madrid
11' Asencio plays the ball back to Mbappe but he curls an effort just wide
17' Rafa Mir looks to sweep beyond Courtois but the keeper gets a big leg to it
22' It's a great delivery on to the head of Asencio but he can't find the target
25' Guler has a shot from distance which is just over the bar
29' Highlight from Elche vs Real Madrid
30' Mbappe is bearing down on goal but his last touch is heavy and Inaki Pena saves
35' Mbappe thinks he's scored but Inaki Pena make a big save
48' Match Event for Elche vs Real Madrid
53' GOAL! Real stunned as Febas opens the scoring for hosts! Elche 1-0 Real Madrid
58' Valverde, Camavinga and Vinicius Jr replace Rodrygo, Fran Garcia and Ceballos
73' Vinicius Jr looks to square it but Elche turn it behind
79' CLOSE! Vinicius takes a shot striking the bar!
80' GOAL! Huijsen prods into the back of the net to equalize! Elche 1-1 Real Madrid
85' GOAL! Former Real man Rodriguez takes hosts back in front! Elche 2-1 Real Madrid
87' GOAL! Mbappe saves the ball for Bellingham to equalize! Elche 2-2 Real Madrid
Line-ups
Elche XI: Andre Silva, Aleix Febas, Rafa Mir, Pena, Grady Diangana, Víctor Chust, Marc Aguado, Germán Valera, Álvaro Núñez, David Affengruber, Héctor Fort
Subs: Matías Dituro, Bigas, Léo Pétrot, Pedrosa, Bambo Diaby, John Donald, Martim Neto, Álvaro Rodríguez, Yago Santiago, Rodrigo Mendoza, Federico Redondo, Adam Boayar
Real Madrid XI: Courtois, Ceballos, Alexander-Arnold, Mbappe, Fran García, Rodrygo, Bellingham, Güler, Álvaro Carreras, Raúl Asencio, Dean Huijsen
Subs: F Mendy, Valverde, Brahim, Lunin, Vinicius, Camavinga, Gonzalo García, Endrick, Sergio Mestre