Real Madrid vs Elche

La Liga leaders Real Madrid and Elche are set to trade tackles at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in the repeat of their midweek Copa del Rey showdown.

Brimming with confidence following a nerve-shredding extra-time win at non-other than Elche (2-1) in midweek Copa del Rey action, Real Madrid will be looking to extend their 11-game unbeaten H2H run in La Liga (W10 D1). ‘Los Blancos’ head into proceedings three points clear at the summit after losing just one of their last 13 league matches. Carlo Ancelotti’s have been nothing short of outstanding at home this season, going unbeaten in all ten La Liga fixtures at the Bernabeu so far (W7, D3). Bringing the 2020/21 season into the equation, they are now undefeated in their last 20 top-flight outings at home (W14, D6), which waxes lyrical about their hopes of winning back-to-back La Liga games for the first time since early December.

Meanwhile, Elche have gone from three consecutive La Liga matches without winning (D1, L2) to two victories in a row, prevailing by a single-goal margin on both occasions. A 2-1 triumph over Espanyol in their most recent La Liga road trip ended Elche’s run of eight away league games without a win (D2, L6) as they now look to win back-to-back top-flight fixtures on hostile turf for the first time since October 2020. But that could be easier said than done, considering that they’ve failed to win any of their last 22 La Liga meetings with Real Madrid in the nation’s capital (D3, L19). Conceding first would strike a potentially devastating blow on Elche’s hopes of staging an upset here as they’ve lost nine out of ten La Liga encounters when falling behind this season (D1).