24 November 2025
Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso expressed his frustration with his team's continued poor form and their 2-2 draw against Elche in the 13th round of the Spanish La Liga on Sunday.
Elche twice took the lead through goals from Alex Febas and Álvaro Rodríguez in the 53rd and 84th minutes, while Real Madrid equalized through goals from Dean Hoesen and Jude Bellingham in the 78th and 87th minutes.
Real Madrid continued to drop points with their second consecutive league draw, remaining top of the table with 32 points, but their lead over arch-rivals and reigning champions Barcelona, who sit in second place, has been reduced to just one point.
This also marks Real Madrid's third consecutive draw in all competitions, having lost to Liverpool 1-0 in the Champions League group stage earlier this month.
Real Madrid will be under pressure to deliver a strong response and appease their fans in two consecutive away matches: against Olympiacos in the Champions League next Wednesday, followed by Girona in the next round of La Liga on Sunday.
During the press conference following Real Madrid's match against Elche, Alonso stated that negative results attract criticism, but his team is coping with this criticism with high morale and a desire for continuous improvement.
Alonso spoke about the most painful moment in the Elche match, expressing his deep regret at conceding the second goal immediately after scoring the equalizer. He emphasized that it was a painful moment when the team should have been striving to turn the game around. However, the Spanish coach praised the fighting spirit shown by the team, which enabled them to equalize again. He admitted that what the team lacked after the 1-1 draw was "pressing the opponent's area."
Alonso also noted that the communication between the team members is constantly improving thanks to the extended time they spend together.
Real Madrid's official website quoted Alonso as saying, "We're all in the same boat and rowing in the same direction."
Alonso concluded by stating that the team is full of energy and eager to change this situation and return to winning ways, starting with the upcoming match against Olympiacos.
