Real Madrid fizzles out in Elche: League lead wobbles enormously!

Real Madrid fizzles out in Elche: League lead wobbles enormously!

Real Madrid dropped important points with a 2-2 draw against Elche in the Spanish La Liga on November 24, 2025, despite the strong effort of their players. Although the Madrilenians were able to defend their place at the top of the table, the competition remains stubborn, especially FC Barcelona, ​​who had a clear 4-0 win against Athletic Bilbao and are only one point behind. The goals for Real Madrid were scored by Dean Huijsen in the 78th minute and Jude Bellingham in the 87th minute after Elche had taken the lead twice - first through Aleix Febas (53rd minute) and then through Álvaro Rodríguez (84th minute).

La Liga promoted Elche have an unbeaten record at home so far this season, consisting of three wins and three draws. The team was also well organized defensively against Real Madrid, which made it difficult for the guests to create clear chances and only scored goals from set pieces. David Affengruber, Elche's Austrian central defender, played an outstanding role and contributed significantly to his team's success.

Injury concerns at Real Madrid

For Real Madrid, however, the draw represents a further sign of the team's ongoing challenges. They have now played their third competitive game in a row without a win, leaving room for speculation about possible unrest in the dressing room. There are reports that there is dissatisfaction among the players with the team leadership of Xabi Alonso, who was forced to play with a more defensive formation due to personnel shortages. It was suddenly noticeable that important players such as Dani Carvajal, Éder Militão, Antonio Rüdiger, David Alaba and Aurélien Tchouameni were out due to injuries.

The loss of Lucas Vázquez, who suffered a muscle injury in the city derby against Atlético Madrid and is expected to be out for three weeks, is particularly serious. Militão and Carvajal also suffered serious injuries and will not play again this season. In addition to Vázquez and Alaba, the numerous injuries include Rüdiger, who could also be out for a long time.

Important games are coming up

Despite the current situation, Real Madrid is challenged because they have an important Champions League game against Olympiakos on Wednesday. Xabi Alonso is forced to find creative solutions. His decisions regarding the starting lineup could determine whether or not the team can end the negative streak.

Another negative aspect is that Rodrygo Goes hasn't scored in 29 games, making him a club record. The coming games could be crucial for Real Madrid's future under the pressure of these injuries and the ongoing sporting crisis.

Overall, the draw against Elche was another example of the difficulties currently facing the team. While Real Madrid maintain their lead, the pressure from both their pursuers and internal challenges remains high. The coming matches will be crucial in determining whether the team is able to turn things around and get out of this difficult phase.

Further information can be found at Small newspaper, Managing Madrid and Sports picture.