BETTING GUIDE: Elche vs Real Madrid, match preview, team news and betting prediction
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Reading Time: 5min | Sun. 23.11.25. | 10:55
With Los Blancos holding a three-point lead at the summit and Barcelona applying pressure from behind, every slip could prove decisive as the season approaches its most demanding phase
Real Madrid will look to restore momentum in their La Liga title charge when they travel to the Estadio Martínez Valero on Sunday to face an Elche side that has quietly impressed since returning to the top flight.
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With Los Blancos holding a three-point lead at the summit and Barcelona applying pressure from behind, every slip could prove decisive as the season approaches its most demanding phase. Elche, meanwhile, sit in a respectable mid-table position, and with their unbeaten home record intact, they enter this clash with belief and purpose rather than fear.
Elche’s campaign has been defined by resilience and structural discipline under Eder Sarabia.
The newly promoted side finished second in last season’s Segunda División and have adapted convincingly to the demands of top-flight football.
Their tally of 15 points from 12 matches (3 wins, 6 draws, 3 losses) places them 11th in the standings – a position few would have predicted at the start of the campaign.
What stands out even more is their outstanding home form: six matches without defeat (3 wins, 3 draws), with their last outing in front of their supporters ending in a spirited 1-1 draw against Real Sociedad.
However, Elche’s trajectory has stuttered slightly in recent weeks.
They are winless in their last five La Liga matches, a run composed of three defeats and two draws, revealing a team that competes well but struggles to finish off matches.
Their issues often stem from a lack of consistent goal production, although their defensive structure has kept matches competitive.
Real Madrid have dominated this fixture for decades, going unbeaten in the last 12 meetings, with 10 wins and two draws, while Elche’s most recent victory dates all the way back to 1978.
Los Blancos have also claimed four of the last five clashes, including emphatic wins of 4-0 in 2023, 3-0 in 2022 and 2-1 in 2021.
Although both teams have scored in three of the last six encounters, Real Madrid’s superiority remains clear.
Even so, Elche have shown some resilience at home, managing two draws in their last four hosting Real Madrid, indicating that despite the historical imbalance, this fixture may not be a straightforward walkover for the league leaders.
Real Madrid, on the other hand, arrive with pressure mounting both internally and externally. Xabi Alonso’s side have hit a minor bump, going two matches without scoring in all competitions – a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League and a goalless draw against Rayo Vallecano before the international break.
Despite these setbacks, Madrid remain top of La Liga with 31 points from 12 fixtures (10 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss), and boast the league’s best defensive record alongside Barcelona, having conceded only 10 goals.
Their away form, however, remains a talking point. Madrid have taken 13 points from six matches on the road, but both of their defeats this season – in all competitions – came in away fixtures.
They have also conceded in half of their eight games away from home, a trend that will encourage an Elche side who have shown they can create moments of danger, particularly at home.
Kylian Mbappé has been the standout figure for Los Blancos, scoring 13 league goals already – more than any other player in the division – and his return from a minor fitness issue provides a major boost.
Yet off-pitch tensions surrounding the futures of Xabi Alonso and Vinícius Júnior have added unnecessary noise, threatening to disrupt Madrid's rhythm at a crucial phase of the season.
Elche enter the contest in relatively strong shape, although Pedro Bigas remains doubtful due to injury.
Sarabia is expected to retain the same starting XI that earned a 1-1 draw against Real Sociedad, with former Real Madrid forward Álvaro Rodríguez set to lead the line once again.
Rodríguez has been a bright spot for Elche this season, showing clever movement and composure in the final third, and he will likely be supported by Rafa Mir and Josan.
For Real Madrid, several key players are expected to be available despite recent fitness scares.
Mbappé, Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga and Thibaut Courtois should all be fit to start.
However, Dean Huijsen is a major doubt following his withdrawal from Spain’s squad, while Antonio Rüdiger, Dani Carvajal, Eder Militão and Aurelien Tchouameni remain sidelined. \
With defensive options stretched, David Alaba may partner young centre-back Raúl Asencio, adding a layer of unpredictability to the back line.
There is also the possibility of a tactical shift from Alonso, with Jude Bellingham lined up to operate behind a front two of Mbappé and Vinícius – a setup Madrid have occasionally used to break stubborn low blocks.
Elche are expected to adopt a mid-to-low block in their 4-1-4-1 structure, prioritizing defensive compactness and quick counters.
Their strength lies in organized horizontal spacing and timely pressure triggers, particularly at home where crowd energy lifts their intensity.
Real Madrid will dominate possession and look to stretch Elche’s block with wide overloads, rotations from Bellingham, and switches of play to isolate their wing threats.
With depth issues in defence, Madrid may take fewer risks in rest defence and instead rely on transitional efficiency led by Mbappé’s pace.
Key Pointers
Elche have scored in each of their last two matches.
Real Madrid have conceded in half of their last 10 matches.
Both teams scored in half of Elche’s six home league games.
Six of the last ten meetings between these sides produced BTTS.
Real Madrid failed to keep a clean sheet in half of their eight away games.
Elche’s home resilience and Real Madrid’s recent away struggles set the stage for a competitive fixture.
Los Blancos are clear favourites based on squad quality and league position, but their defensive inconsistencies on the road, combined with Elche’s strong home form and scoring touch, point toward a match where both sides find the net.
Prediction; Madrid to Win & BTTS
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