Real Madrid will face Elche at the Santiago Bernabeu in La Liga on Saturday evening, aiming to narrow the gap to league leaders Barcelona. The hosts sit second in the table, four points behind the leaders, while Elche occupy 17th place, just one point above the relegation zone. Both teams have recent history of draws in their encounters.
Real Madrid enter the match in strong form overall but have suffered two home defeats in La Liga this season. They trail Barcelona by four points and seek a victory to stay in the title race. Historically, Real Madrid dominate this fixture, having won 48 of their 54 previous matches against Elche across all competitions and never losing at the Bernabeu to the visitors. Elche's last win over Real Madrid dates back to March 1978.
Recent meetings have been closer, with the teams drawing 2-2 in their reverse fixture earlier this season and again at the Bernabeu in January 2022. Elche arrive in poor form, having lost 2-1 to Villarreal in their latest outing and without a win since the final match of 2025. Forward Alvaro Rodriguez, who spent time at Real Madrid from 2020 to 2025, is set to play against his former club.
Injuries plague Real Madrid, with Eder Militao, Jude Bellingham, Dani Ceballos, Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo, and Franco Mastantuono sidelined, while Ferland Mendy, Alvaro Carreras, and David Alaba are doubts. Coach Alvaro Arbeloa may rotate after a midweek Champions League game, potentially starting Raul Asencio, Fran Garcia, Eduardo Camavinga, and Dani Carvajal.
Elche will miss Hector Fort due to a shoulder injury, with Pedro Bigas and John Donald to be assessed. Expected line-ups include Thibaut Courtois in goal for Real Madrid and Gaston Dituro for Elche. The game kicks off at 8:00pm GMT and will be broadcast live on Disney+ in the United Kingdom.
Analysts predict a Real Madrid win, citing their superior quality despite Elche's fresher legs.
