Brave Elche Left Frustrated After Madrid Snatch Dramatic Draw
In a thrilling La Liga encounter that defied all expectations, newly-promoted Elche produced a magnificent performance against league leaders Real Madrid, only to be denied a historic victory by Jude Bellingham's controversial 87th-minute equaliser. The 2-2 draw at Estadio Martínez Valero left the home side feeling aggrieved after twice leading against the Spanish giants.
"I'm Pissed Off" - Sarabia's Raw Reaction
Elche manager Eder Sarabia didn't mince words after the final whistle. "No, I'm not happy. I'm not happy at all," he stated bluntly. "I just told the players that I'm pissed off. And now that I have had a look at the plays, I'm even more pissed off."
His frustration stemmed from Madrid's two equalisers, both originating from disputed set-piece situations. The first came in the 78th minute when Dean Huijsen scored from a corner that appeared to involve a handball by Bellingham in the build-up. The second, and more contentious, arrived from a free-kick that Sarabia insisted "wasn't a foul in the first place" as Elche were breaking forward seeking a third goal.
The incident saw Vinícius collide with goalkeeper Iñaki Peña, leaving the shot-stopper with a bloody nose as the ball broke loose across the line, eventually being converted by Bellingham. Peña initially dismissed the collision as part of the game, but Sarabia predicted his goalkeeper would change his mind upon seeing replays.
Elche's Football Philosophy Shines Through
Despite the disappointment, Sarabia was keen to highlight his team's exceptional performance against opponents with a budget 19 times larger than Elche's. "I don't want to talk about the referee; I want to talk about the great game from my team," he declared.
And what a performance it was. Elche didn't merely defend against the league leaders - they outplayed them for large periods. The tone was set early when Álvaro Núñez dribbled out from his own goal-line after just 10 minutes, demonstrating the confidence Sarabia has instilled in his squad.
Their opening goal was a masterpiece of modern football - a 22-pass move, the second-longest goalscoring sequence in La Liga this season and the longest against Real Madrid in nearly a decade. It was concluded with a gorgeous back-heel from Germán Valera and a simple finish from Aleix Feibas.
When Madrid equalised for the first time through Huijsen, Elche responded not by retreating into defensive shell, but by continuing to play their football. Their second goal came from Álvaro Rodríguez, who ran at the Madrid defence, turned Raúl Asencio left and right before beating Thibaut Courtois from 20 yards.
Throughout the match, Elche created numerous chances, with Rafa Mir denied twice by excellent Courtois saves, while André Silva also missed a clear opportunity. The statistics told a compelling story - no team has had more possession than Elche this season, while David Affengruber leads La Liga in winning possession in the opposition half and Feibas has covered more distance than any other player.
The Sarabia Revolution
This performance was no fluke but the culmination of Eder Sarabia's football philosophy. The former Barcelona assistant, who once ran a fruit counter in a supermarket, has remained true to his principles despite Elche's promoted status.
When recruiting players this summer, Sarabia faced scepticism from targets who assumed Elche would abandon their attacking style in the top flight. His response was unequivocal: "Yes we will." He told prospective signings they would enjoy their football under him, noting that "no one parks the bus on the playground."
Elche's transformation has been remarkable. Operating on a budget of less than €7m spent this summer (while generating twice that in sales), with one of the lowest salary limits in La Liga, they have climbed to within two points of European qualification. Their attacking trio of Rodríguez, Mir and Silva, who scored just four goals between them last season, have already netted ten this campaign.
Austrian defender David Affengruber perfectly captured the mixed emotions after the Madrid game: "It sounds a little crazy, but we're a little bit disappointed to get a point against Real Madrid." He added: "We played amazing football. If you follow us this season you've seen that we try to do this at every stadium, and this is what makes us a little bit special."
While the result leaves Elche eleventh in the table with 16 points, their performance against the league leaders sends a powerful message to the rest of La Liga. In a league where promoted teams typically struggle for survival, Sarabia's side are proving that bravery and beautiful football can compete with financial might.
