Jude Bellingham struck late on to safe Actual Madrid a 2-2 draw at Elche on Sunday, taking his workforce high of La Liga by some extent.
Xabi Alonso’s aspect struggled towards their mid-table opponents in an entertaining battle through which Madrid twice got here from behind.
Aleix Febas fired the hosts forward earlier than Dean Huijsen levelled for the league leaders, with Bellingham stabbing residence from shut vary after Alvaro Rodriguez blasted Elche again in entrance.
Barcelona lower Madrid’s lead by two factors over the weekend after they thrashed Athletic Bilbao 4-0 on Saturday of their first match again at Camp Nou.
Alonso afforded Rodrygo Goes a uncommon begin as a part of the assault, whereas benching Vinicius Junior. The coach additionally gave Trent Alexander-Arnold his first begin since August.
The England worldwide missed a number of weeks injured and is but to search out type following his summer season swap from Liverpool.
Alexander-Arnold was additionally partly accountable for Febas’s objective, with the midfielder sneaking in behind him to interrupt the impasse within the second half.
Elche impressed towards Barcelona a number of weeks in the past and gave Madrid a tricky evening on the Martinez Valero stadium.
Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made a high quality early save to disclaim Andre da Silva after Hector Fort teed him up.
The ahead was concerned in an unlucky incident earlier within the day at Actual Madrid’s annual common assembly, when Los Blancos displayed his {photograph} by chance in a tribute to former Liverpool striker Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who each died in a automotive crash in July.
Former Barca goalkeeper Inaki Pena denied Kylian Mbappe after the French ahead broke by way of on objective after which stopped the French celebrity’s volley in Madrid’s finest probability of the primary half.
Elche surprised Madrid early within the second half with a slick transfer to take the lead.
German Valera’s excellent backheel allowed Febas to dart behind Alexander-Arnold and squeeze a shot throughout objective, previous Courtois and in off the publish.
Alonso responded by sending on Vinicius after which younger striker Gonzalo Garcia. Alexander-Arnold earned some redemption by his contribution to Madrid’s equaliser.
His cross was deflected towards his personal crossbar by a defender and behind for a nook. Alexander-Arnold whipped it in and Bellingham flicked it on into Huijsen’s path to bash residence.
Elche took the lead once more when Rodriguez caught out Courtois with a robust drive from the sting of the field.
Nonetheless, three minutes later Madrid equalised for a second time, with Mbappe solely simply preserving the ball in for Bellingham to transform from point-blank vary.
The England midfielder was within the highlight again residence earlier within the week after he was sad to be taken off by nationwide workforce coach Thomas Tuchel.
Bellingham was not at his finest towards Elche however was concerned in each Madrid targets, highlighting his game-changing means within the field even when in any other case quiet.
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