Jude Bellingham delivered once again for Real Madrid, scoring late to secure a draw against Elche and send Xabi Alonso’s side back to the top of La Liga.
The England midfielder smashed home Kylian Mbappé’s cut-back with three minutes left, earning Madrid a point after they had fallen behind twice at the Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero. The goal marked Bellingham’s third in his past four league matches.
Elche struck first eight minutes into the second half when Aleix Febas slid a shot past Thibaut Courtois and in off the post. Real responded through former Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen, who stabbed in Bellingham’s knockdown with 12 minutes remaining.
But the hosts immediately regained the lead as Álvaro Rodríguez fired a low effort from the edge of the box beyond Courtois. Madrid refused to relent, and Bellingham’s late intervention ensured they avoided defeat.
Elche finished with 10 men after Víctor Chust received a second yellow card for a foul on Mbappé in stoppage time.
The draw lifts Real Madrid back above Barcelona, who defeated Athletic Club 4-0 on Saturday on their return to Spotify Camp Nou. Elche stay 11th.
Madrid had enjoyed strong first-half chances, with Mbappé twice denied by goalkeeper Iñaki Peña—once from a tight angle and again after being set up by Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was deployed as a right wing-back.
Elche threatened as well: Rafa Mir forced a save from Courtois and André da Silva saw a low shot blocked by the Belgian stopper before halftime.
The second half remained lively. Rodrygo’s fierce strike was tipped over by Peña, while Courtois kept Madrid in the match with another superb save to stop Febas.
Rodríguez’s 84th-minute finish put Elche on the brink of their first win over Madrid since 1978, but Bellingham’s late equaliser preserved the visitors’ unbeaten run. The 22-year-old had also scored in recent victories over Barcelona and Valencia before the international break.
Earlier in the day, Real Madrid apologised for mistakenly using an image of Elche forward André da Silva in a tribute video dedicated to former Liverpool player Diogo Jota and his brother, André Silva.
Xabi Alonso’s side now shift their focus to the Champions League, where they face Olympiacos on Wednesday, 26 November (20:00 GMT).
