Jude Bellingham’s late equaliser salvages a 2-2 draw for Real Madrid at Elche, while Atletico Madrid secure narrow 1-0 victory at Getafe
JUDE Bellingham struck late to secure Real Madrid a 2-2 draw at Elche on Sunday, maintaining their one-point lead over Barcelona at the top of La Liga.
Xabi Alonso’s side twice came from behind in an entertaining battle against their mid-table opponents.
Aleix Febas fired the hosts ahead before Dean Huijsen levelled for the league leaders.
Alvaro Rodriguez blasted Elche back in front before Bellingham stabbed home from close range to equalise.
Barcelona had cut Madrid’s lead by two points after thrashing Athletic Bilbao 4-0 on Saturday in their first match back at Camp Nou.
Atletico Madrid scraped a 1-0 win at Getafe earlier on Sunday to keep pressure on the teams above them.
Real Madrid have now failed to win any of their last three matches across all competitions.
“It’s football – after going in a good dynamic we’ve had some results we don’t like, but we know what we want,” Alonso told reporters.
“We’re not happy because we always want to win.”
Alonso gave Trent Alexander-Arnold his first start since August and benched Vinicius Junior.
The England international missed several weeks injured and is yet to find form following his summer switch from Liverpool.
Alexander-Arnold was partly to blame for Febas’s goal, with the midfielder sneaking in behind him to break the deadlock.
Elche impressed against Barcelona recently and gave Madrid a tough night at the Martinez Valero stadium.
Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made a fine early save to deny Andre da Silva.
Former Barcelona goalkeeper Inaki Pena denied Kylian Mbappe twice in the first half.
Elche stunned Madrid early in the second half with a slick move to take the lead.
German Valera’s superb backheel allowed Febas to dart behind Alexander-Arnold and score.
Alexander-Arnold earned some redemption by contributing to Madrid’s equaliser, earning a corner and whipping it in for Bellingham to flick into Huijsen’s path.
Elche took the lead again when Rodriguez caught out Courtois with a powerful drive from the edge of the box.
Three minutes later Madrid equalised for a second time, with Mbappe’s cut-back finished by Bellingham.
Elche were unhappy that Vinicius collided with goalkeeper Pena before Bellingham’s goal, leaving the stopper with a bloody nose.
Pena said the clash was just something which happens in the game, but his coach Eder Sarabia was furious.
“It’s a clear foul, clear,” said Sarabia, who added he was not happy with just one point after his team’s fine display.
Diego Simeone’s Atletico trail Real Madrid by four points following their narrow win at Getafe’s Coliseum.
Getafe often prove a tough nut to crack at home and they frustrated their neighbours.
Atletico captain Koke played his 700th game for the club in the match.
Giacomo Raspadori turned a cross back across goal and Duarte bundled clumsily into his own net under pressure from Antoine Griezmann in the 82nd minute.
Atletico are unbeaten in 12 consecutive league matches after defeat by Espanyol on the opening day.
“The team is working very well and we are competing as we want to, and luck, which is also part of this game, is on our side sometimes,” said Simeone. – AFP
