Jude Bellingham once again found a way. With Real Madrid staring at a damaging defeat, the English midfielder popped up in the 87th minute to level the match at 2-2 against a fearless Elche, keeping Los Blancos top of La Liga by the slimmest of margins. It was an intense night at Manuel Martínez Valero Stadium, and a reminder that the title race is very much alive.

Late drama: Bellingham and Mbappé save the leaders

Real Madrid trailed twice and needed a moment of calm amid chaos. They got it when Kylian Mbappé refused to let the ball run out on the left, kept it in play, and squared it for Bellingham to finish from close range. It was a simple tap-in, made possible by elite awareness and timing.

That goal came after a long and frustrating evening for Madrid’s attack. Mbappé, who had two big first-half chances, was denied both times by former Barcelona goalkeeper Iñaki Peña. The home crowd sensed a shock, and for a while, it looked on.

“Is Bellingham already Madrid’s most important player?”

How Elche struck first — and struck again

Elche refused to roll over. Early in the second half, Aleix Febas opened the scoring, finishing after a clever backheel from Germán Valera unlocked the Madrid back line. It was a goal built on sharp movement and belief, and it gave the match a jolt.

Madrid answered on 78 minutes. From a corner, Bellingham flicked the ball on at the near post, and Dean Huijsen reacted fastest to sweep in his first goal for the club. The relief was brief. In the 84th minute, Álvaro Rodríguez, once a Real Madrid youth striker, smashed in a powerful long-range shot to restore Elche’s lead. The narrative looked set: a night of regret for the league leaders.

But Bellingham had the final say. And that single point could loom large when the table tightens in spring.

“Elche showed no fear — that long shot was a statement.”

Madrid’s attack misfires despite volume of chances

There was no lack of effort, but there was a lack of clean finishing. Mbappé’s early efforts were well saved by Peña, who stood tall and read the angles. Vinícius Júnior and Arda Güler each had openings but could not hit the target or find the right final touch. The moves were neat until the last pass or shot.

Part of the story was Elche’s discipline. They kept a compact shape, won duels in key areas, and did not panic under pressure. Even after Víctor Chust saw red for a second yellow following a foul on Mbappé, Elche stayed organized enough to make Madrid work for every yard.

Madrid had control of the ball for long spells, yet the tempo dipped and rose without a true run of dominance. That rhythm — stop-start, hurried, then slow again — is what will trouble coach Xabi Alonso as much as the scoreline.

“Mbappé’s assist was pure class — but where were the finishes before?”

Elche’s ex-Madrid links and a standout in goal

There was added spice in who delivered for Elche. Febas and Rodríguez both have history with Madrid, and they played with an edge. Rodríguez’s strike, in particular, felt like a message: talent grows in many places, and on any day it can bite back.

Behind them, Iñaki Peña, who came through Barcelona, produced the kind of saves that swing mood and momentum. His first-half stops from Mbappé were the base for Elche’s belief, and they gave the home side a platform to grow. For a team that had not seen many positive results lately, avoiding defeat here — for only the second time in a string of recent matches — will feel like a small win.

Bellingham’s response after a noisy week

It has been a busy week for Bellingham away from club duty, with talk around his role for his national team. Nights like this show why he carries so much weight. He assisted Huijsen’s equaliser from a corner and later scored the second equaliser himself. It was leadership by action, simple and brave.

His timing in the box and calm under pressure continue to be Madrid’s safety net. This team leans on him in big moments, and he delivers more often than not.

Xabi Alonso’s verdict and the bigger La Liga picture

After the match, Xabi Alonso kept the tone measured: “It’s football — after going in a good dynamic we’ve had some results we don’t like, but we know what we want.” It was a fair read. Madrid’s winless run has stretched, yet they still sit first.

Barcelona’s 4-0 win over Athletic Bilbao earlier cut the gap to two points. That matters. Small swings can decide a title race. Madrid’s draw means every minute now feels heavier, every chance more valuable.

There is no need for panic, but there is a clear to-do list: sharper finishing, more control in midfield, and fewer lapses at the back. The red card to Chust should have tipped the match. Instead, Elche still found a way to threaten. Madrid cannot count on late magic every weekend.

What decided the night: fine margins and one elite duo

In the end, the match turned on details. A backheel from Germán Valera. A near-post flick from Bellingham. A precise cutback from Mbappé. A keeper’s strong hands. Little moments added up to a split of the points.

The Mbappé–Bellingham link continues to grow. One is a master of space and burst, the other a master of timing and touch. When they connect, Madrid look like champions. When the rest of the attack fails to match that level, the door stays open for teams like Elche.

Player notes

• Jude Bellingham: Goal and assist; decisive again under pressure.
• Kylian Mbappé: Two first-half chances saved; clever late assist for 2-2.
• Dean Huijsen: Alert, important equaliser from a set piece.
• Iñaki Peña: Crucial saves kept Elche in front until late on.
• Álvaro Rodríguez: Thunderous long-range strike against his former club’s senior side.

Bottom line

Real Madrid leave Elche with one point and a warning. They remain leaders, but Barcelona are close enough to feel the heat. Bellingham’s late goal keeps the story positive, for now. The next step is less drama and more control — because in this La Liga race, even the smallest slip can change everything.