That draw sees Madrid go four points clear at the top of the table again, and they are now unbeaten in their last six outings in all competitions. They have the Copa del Rey quarter-final against Athletic Bilbao a week on Wednesday. Elche stay in 15th and are unbeaten in their last four league games. They face Deportivo Alaves after the international break.
Militao scores in stoppage-time to snatch a 2-2 draw with Elche. Benzema hit the bar from the penalty spot in the first half before Boye stooped to head Elche ahead before the break. Milla extended the visitors' lead in the 76th minute with a low finish across goal. VAR then awarded Madrid a second penalty which Modric slotted home to start the comeback and Militao guided a header past Badia late on to earn a point for his side.
90' + 6' FULL-TIME: REAL MADRID 2-2 ELCHE.
D. Alaba
Yellow Card
90' + 5' Alaba steps across Milla in an attempt to block the pass and is shown a yellow card after catching him on the shin.
90' + 4' Madrid believe they can win this, and they have a free-kick on the left. Modric steps up to take it, swinging a deep cross into the box. Badia reads it well though and punches it away.
Vinícius Júnior
Assist
90' + 2' It looked for a second like Vinicius was out of ideas, but he cut back to get away from his defender and get the cross into the box.
Éder Militão
Goal
90' + 2' MILITAO EQUALISES! Vinicius does well to wrongfoot Palacios and loop the cross into the box and Militao wants it the most. He leaps high above Mojica on the edge of the six-yard box and guides his header past Badia and into the back of the net. 2-2!
90' The home fans are urging their team upfield as the game heads towards stoppage time. Mendy lays it off to Modric on the edge of the box, but his low shot is deflected out for a corner off Gonzalez.
Josan Ferrández
Lucas Pérez
88' Elche are trying to run the clock down and Perez takes a long time to make his way off the field. Ferrandez replaces him.
86' BLOCK! Mendy cuts out Milla's pass and threads a lovely throughball in behind to Vinicius. He squares it to Rodrigo instead of going for goal himself and the deflection off Verdu takes it just wide.
84' It's Madrid that are dominating possession again now and they're patiently working it out from the back. Alaba makes another good run down the left, but his clipped cross is cut out by Verdu.
L. Modrić
Penalty Goal
82' MODRIC SCORES! Unlike Benzema earlier, Modric slots this one home! It's a good spot-kick from the captain, and he sends Badia diving the wrong way, hitting the penalty into the bottom-right corner to pull a goal back. 2-1!
82' PENALTY TO MADRID! The referee has been asked to go over to the monitor and the replays show that Milla's arm was away from his body when it struck him. The referee goes back onto the pitch and points to the spot.
81' Modric curls another good corner into the box and there are shouts for another penalty from the Madrid players. They're claiming it struck Milla's arm on the way through and VAR is having a look at this...
F. Valverde
Lucas Vázquez
79' And Vazquez is also taken off, with Valverde replacing him.
Isco
E. Hazard
79' Double change for Madrid now as they try to get back into this game. Hazard is the first to make way, with Isco on for him.
78' OFF THE BAR! Modric whips a good corner into the box and Casemiro rises highest in the middle to meet it. He thumps a header towards goal, but it smacks off the crossbar.
L. Boyé
Assist
76' Two Madrid defenders were trying to close him down, and he spun away from them to get out of trouble and add an assist to his goal.
Pere Milla
Goal
76' MILLA SCORES! It's a lovely bit of skill from Boye to get away from his defenders before he plays in Milla on the right of the box. Nobody's picking him up, and he has time to get it out of his feet before hitting it across goal and into the far side of the net. 2-0 Elche!
74' Madrid are patiently working their way upfield again and Vinicius curls another cross in from the left. Hazard tries to cushion it down for Jovic but gifts it straight to Guti.
Vinícius Júnior
Yellow Card
72' Vinicius slides in on the back of Milla to stop his run. He's pleading his innocence, but the referee shows him a yellow card which means he'll miss the next match.
71' MISS! It's another great jinking run from Hazard that gets them in behind before he touches it to Modric. He picks out Mendy and he tees up Vincius. He drags it away from Palacios before curling his shot wide of the far post.
70' It's a loose pass from Gumbau in midfield that gifts the ball to Modric and the Madrid players flood upfield. It's switched out to Mendy on the left, but again, he can't pick out a team-mate.
68' Alaba is taking measures into his own hands here as he ventures higher up the pitch and curls a low cross into the box. He's looking for Vinicius in the middle, but it's hooked away by Verdu.
66' The Elche fans and players aren't happy as they think they should've had a penalty when Milla goes to ground. He got sandwiched between Mendy and Alaba, but there wasn't enough in that and the referee waves the claims away.
Rodrygo
T. Kroos
63' Second change for Madrid now and it's Kroos that's going off for Rodrygo.
62' CHANCE! Mendy pulls a great ball back from the byline which is just out of Casemiro's reach and Hazard's touch hits it against Gumbau. It falls for Kroos instead, and he tries to swerve it into the top corner with the outside of the boot, but it flies high and wide.
60' Madrid break quickly on the counter again and Kroos tries to lift an early cross over the top to Jovic. He's alone on the penalty spot, but Gonzalez reads it well and gets across to intercept.
L. Jović
K. Benzema
58' Madrid are making their first change of the game, and it's an enforced one. Benzema goes straight down the tunnel holding his hamstring, with Jovic coming on to replace him.
57' It's swept out to Palacios and he has acres of space to run into down the right. He floats an early cross into the box for Milla, who backheels it over his head. He doesn't get it quite right though and it bounces kindly into Courtois' gloves.
Fidel
Yellow Card
55' Fidel has a handful of Hazard's shirt, and he deliberately tugs him back to stop the run which earns him a yellow card.
Éder Militão
Yellow Card
54' Militao was late as he came in on the back of Boye, and he kicks the forward's feet out from under him. He's shown the first yellow card of the game.
52' NO PENALTY! After going over to the monitor to have a look at the replays, the referee decides to overturn his original decision as there was barely any contact from Gonzalez when Hazard went down.
51' PENALTY TO MADRID! For the second time in the game, the referee points to the spot! Hazard tried to get away from Gonzalez, and the defender does have his hands on his back. There doesn't look to be much in it though, and the referee is going over to the monitor...
50' It's a great run from Palacios as he skips away from two challenges in his own half before breaking through the middle. It's switched out to Guti on the left, but he fouls Modric before he can put a cross in.
48' Madrid have started the second half on the front foot and they win a corner when Mendy's clipped cross is blocked. Kroos' low cross causes all sorts of problems in the six-yard box, but it's blocked by Verdu ahead of Vinicius at the far post.
46' Madrid get us back underway for the second half!
Elche managed the game well in the first half, as they held strong during Madrid's pressure before breaking on the counter to take the lead. Ramos will be hoping they can see this out in the second half. Madrid weren't short of chances though, and if they can be more clinical in front of goal, they look likely to get themselves back into this game.
Boye's header gives Elche a 1-0 lead over Madrid at half-time. Madrid made a bright start to the game with Vinicius, Benzema and Casemiro all forcing good saves out of Badia early on. The hosts were then awarded a penalty when Vinicius was fouled in the box, but Benzema skimmed the top of the crossbar from the spot. Minutes later, Boye scored a great header to put Elche ahead with their first shot on target, and Kroos saw a free-kick well saved just before the break.
45' + 5' HALF-TIME: REAL MADRID 0-1 ELCHE.
45' + 4' GREAT SAVE! Madrid have one last chance to equalise in this half with a free-kick to the left. Kroos steps up, whipping his shot up and over the wall. It's just dipping under the bar, but Badia gets across to push it away from the top corner.
45' + 2' SAVE! Vazquez again has space on the right and he feeds the ball through to Benzema. He holds off Gonzalez long enough to turn and hit a low shot on goal, but it's straight at Badia down the middle.
45' + 1' Into four added minutes at the end of the first half and Elche look a lot more comfortable in possession. Mojica makes another good run down the left, linking up well with Fidel, until he's blocked off by Militao.
44' CHANCE! Casemiro's throughball cuts open Elche's midfield and Mendy has a clear run at goal. He drills a low shot across goal, and it's just wide of the far post. He's claiming the keeper got a touch on that, but the referee points for a goal-kick.
Fidel
Assist
42' Fidel got a yard on Vazquez as he sprinted to get onto Mojica's pass and he whips a brilliant cross into the space at the far post for Boye.
L. Boyé
Goal
42' BOYE SCORES! It's a lovely pass from Mojica to play in Fidel down the left, and he whips a cross in from the byline. Boye throws himself forward to get on the end of it, and his header flies past Courtois and into the back of the net. 1-0 Elche!
41' Elche are starting to find their rhythm now and are keeping the ball well as they patiently play it out from the back. Madrid are trying to press them high upfield, but can't get close at the moment.
39' Elche win another corner, but again, it hits the first man at the near post. Casemiro flicks it away and Verdu hooks a hopeful ball back into the middle. Perez is chasing it, but Courtois comes out to collect it.
37' Milla has stayed down holding his ankle after that challenge on Vinicius, and the medical team are on to see to him. He's back to his feet quickly though and he'll be able to carry on.
35' Casemiro's pass deflects kindly into Benzema's path, and he does well to hold it up until Vinicius gets up in support down the left. The forward is fouled by Milla though and wins a free-kick.
K. Benzema
Penalty Miss
33' OFF THE BAR! Benzema takes a short run-up to the spot, and he's going for power when he strikes the ball. Badia is diving the wrong way, but it doesn't matter as the ball skims the top of the crossbar. Still 0-0!
32' PENALTY TO MADRID! Milla loses the ball to Kroos and Vinicius spins to get into the box. Verdu misses him, but Palacios doesn't and clumsily pushes the forward to the ground. The referee has a good view of it and points straight to the spot.
30' GOOD SAVE! It's well-worked out to Vazquez on the right again, only this time, he pulls it back for Modric on the edge of the box. He drills his first-time effort on goal, and Badia makes a good save with his feet to keep him out.
29' Mendy runs into traffic down the left but turns back to Kroos, who switches it out to Vazquez on the right. His floated cross has the keeper scrambling back across his line, but it ends up bouncing wide on the far side.
27' SAVE! Madrid are really starting to up the pressure now and Alaba plays a wonderful ball over the to Benzema. He brings it down with a brilliant first touch, but his shot is straight down the middle at Badia.
26' Mendy has acres of space down the left, and he squares a dangerous, low cross onto the edge of the six-yard box. It's just behind Benzema, who improvises with the flick, but Gonzalez blocks it ahead of Badia.
Fidel
Tete Morente
24' Morente is taken off the pitch on a stretcher, with Fidel on to replace him.
22' It looks like there's a problem here for Morente, who twisted his ankle after a collision with Casemiro. He's receiving treatment now, but it doesn't look like he'll be able to carry on.
20' Benzema touches it out to Hazard on the right, but he runs straight into a crowd when he cuts inside. The rebound falls to Vazquez, who fizzes it into the box for Hazard, but he can only pull it back to Modric. He has a go from range, but it's a comfortable save for Badia.
18' Gumbau's whipped corner bounces off Vinicius, but he gets it back from Casemiro to break quickly on the counter. He drives down the left before curling an early cross into the box, but he can't pick out a team-mate in the middle.
16' The ball bobbles up in Madrid's box and Boye reacts quickest to take it away from Militao. He tries to chip it back across goal to Guti on the far side, but Mendy is in the right place to block it.
14' CHANCE! Elche just can't get out of their own box at the moment, and Vinicius picks out Kroos in space just outside the area. He has time to take a touch before curling it towards goal, but it's just wide of the near post.
13' Madrid are on the attack again, with Modric threading it through to Vazquez, who made the overlapping run down the left. He tries to square it to Benzema at the far post, but Gonzalez steps in to intercept it.
11' SAVE! Hazard quickly turns his defender to sweep the ball out to Benzema on the left. He touches it to Vinicius, who gets away from Verdu with a drop of the shoulder and onto the edge of the six-yard box. He tries to tuck it into the near post, but Badia is there to hold it.
10' Madrid are unbeaten in their last 20 home LaLiga games (W14 D6), since a 2-1 defeat to Levante in January 2021.
8' Madrid are keeping the ball well at the moment, but they're struggling to find their way through a compact Elche defence. Hazard cuts inside from the left, but is crowded off it before he can get a cross in.
6' Mojica and Milla link up well down the left for the visitors, but when the full-back tries to loop a cross towards Perez, it's cleared by Militao. Gumbau has a chance to put it back into the box, but he can't find a way past Casemiro.
4' Boye brings the ball down with a lovely bit of control, and Elche have a chance to break now. He switches it out to Palacios down the right, but his pass over the top to Morente is overhit straight out of play.
2' Benzema spins away from Mojica down the left and plays a clever one-two with Vazquez near the byline to try and lose his defender. The resulting cross into the box isn't so good though, and Verdu hooks it away.
1' Boye gets the game underway for Elche!
The teams are out on the pitch now, with kick-off just moments away!
Madrid are unbeaten in their last 11 LaLiga games against Elche (W10 D1), since a 1-3 defeat away from home in March 1978.
Francisco is still absent after testing positive for Covid-19, so Jaime Ramos takes charge again and makes just four changes from the defeat on Thursday. Badia returns in goal, with Verdu, Morente and Boye also coming in. Werner, Donald and Josan drop to the bench, with Casilla and Piatti also amongst the substitutes after recovering from coronavirus.
Carlo Ancelotti returns to a more familiar line-up today as he makes seven changes to the side that started the Copa del Rey win over Elche - only Vazquez, Alaba, Kroos and Vinicius retain their places. Militao is back in central defence after serving a suspension, while Hazard is brought into the front three after coming off the bench to score the winner in that game.
ELCHE SUBS: Sergio Juan, Kiko Casilla, Marco Soler, Pablo Piatti, Josan, Diego Bri, Fidel, Jose Luis Friaza, John Donald, Axel Werner.
ELCHE STARTING XI (4-4-2): Edgar Badia; Helibelton Palacios, Gonzalo Verdu, Diego Gonzalez, Johan Mojica; Tete Morente, Raul Guti, Gerard Gumbau, Pere Milla; Lucas Boye, Lucas Perez.
REAL MADRID SUBS: Andriy Lunin, Nacho, Federico Valverde, Dani Ceballos, Luka Jovic, Isco, Eduardo Camavinga, Rodrygo, Gareth Bale, Marcelo, Toni Fuidias.
REAL MADRID STARTING XI (4-3-3): Thibaut Courtois; Lucas Vazquez, Eder Militao, David Alaba, Ferland Mendy; Luka Modric, Casemiro, Toni Kroos; Eden Hazard, Karim Benzema, Vinicius Junior.
It's the second meeting between these sides this week, with Madrid coming out on top with a 2-1 win after extra time in the Copa del Rey last 16 on Thursday. Los Blancos have the chance to extend their lead at the top of the table with another win here today and have won all five of their games in all competitions since their defeat to Getafe at the start of January. The Cup defeat ended a four-game unbeaten run in all competitions for Elche (W3 D1), but they've won their last two league outings coming into today.
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the LaLiga meeting between Real Madrid and Elche at the Santiago Bernabeu!
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