Xabi Alonso under pressure as Real Madrid fight back twice in Elche thriller

Alonso admitted the recent dip has tested the squad's mood. "It's football. After a good run, now we have had results we didn't want," he said. "We're not happy because we always want to win, but there are many matches left.

"The team haven't collapsed; they keep competing. It's in adversity that you have to respond."

Madrid needed resilience in Alicante, coming from behind twice to deny an Elche side who have now avoided defeat in only two of the last eight league meetings at the Martinez Valero. 

Elche played with remarkable boldness, with Alvaro Nunez even dribbling through his own penalty area early on, but Madrid still created openings as Kylian Mbappe fired narrowly wide from Raul Asencio's pass.

Elche, who are winless in their last six matches, created several strong chances of their own. Andre Silva headed inches off target, Grady Diangana forced a block, and Rafa Mir was denied by a sharp stop from Thibaut Courtois after being played in by Silva.

At the other end, Asencio steered a header just wide from Trent Alexander-Arnold's corner, and Arda Guler curled just past the post after combining neatly with Fran Garcia.

The second half brought the breakthrough. After Courtois had kept Madrid level early on, slick interplay from Elche ended with Aleix Febas finishing off German Valera's clever backheel to make it 1-0 on 53 minutes. 

Alonso reacted immediately with multiple changes, and Madrid eventually levelled when Jude Bellingham's header from an Alexander-Arnold corner allowed Dean Huijsen to force the ball over the line in the 78th minute.

Elche struck again six minutes later when Alvaro Rodriguez surged forward and beat Courtois from distance, but Madrid refused to fold. Bellingham equalised for a second time after Mbappe's cut-back, taking his league tally into double figures and ensuring Madrid left with at least a point.

Elche finished with ten men after Víctor Chust received a second yellow for pulling Mbappé's shirt, and Madrid nearly stole victory late on, but Gonzalo Garcia could not apply the final touch to Eduardo Camavinga's cross.

Alonso said his side "must stay self-critical and keep improving", but the draw keeps Madrid top as they prepare for a crucial run of December fixtures.

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