Sports
Elche Seek First Win Over Real Madrid Amid Historic Winless Streak
Elche are aiming for an unlikely first victory against Real Madrid when the two sides meet on Tuesday evening in the sixth round of the Spanish league, hoping to break a long‑standing run of defeats against the white shirts. According to Opta, Elche have not won any of their last 16 La Liga meetings with Real Madrid, drawing three and losing 13 since their 3‑1 victory in March 1978. That is the club’s longest winless run against Madrid in the competition’s history. For Real Madrid, the opposite is true: they have gone unbeaten in their last eight away trips to Elche in La Liga, winning six and drawing two, marking their longest away unbeaten run against Elche in the competition’s history.
Tuesdays have been favorable for Madrid. They have won their last five La Liga matches played on the day, and another victory would give them their longest winning run on a Tuesday in the competition’s history. Elche, by contrast, are experiencing their worst Tuesday slump in the top flight, having lost their last three.
Away form offers Elche a sliver of hope. Madrid have lost four of their last nine La Liga matches on the road, against four wins and a draw. Since 2019, the club have suffered five or more away defeats in a calendar year only once, when they lost seven in 2023 under Carlo Ancelotti. Elche’s own campaign has been winless from the first five matches, having drawn two and lost three of their opening five La Liga fixtures in 2026‑2027. This is the third time this century they have started a top‑flight season without a win in their first five games, after 2013‑2014 (three draws and two losses) and 2022‑2023 (one draw and four losses).
Woodwork has become a theme for Madrid. Their shots have struck the post or crossbar eight times in La Liga this season, double the tally of any other side. Barcelona follows with four. That figure carries its own footnote: Madrid are the first team to hit the woodwork eight times in the first five matches of a La Liga season since at least 2003‑2004.
Possession deserted Elche last time out. They managed an average of just 33.3 percent against Athletic Bilbao, their lowest share in a competition match since February 2023 against Real Madrid, when it dropped to 27.6 percent.
Kylian Mbappé is in fine form. Fresh from his 50th La Liga win with Real Madrid, the Frenchman has scored six goals in five appearances this season, his best return after his first five games in the Spanish top flight. Arda Güler is pulling the strings behind him. No player in Europe’s big five leagues has created more chances this season than his 24, and he has fashioned five or more in four of his five La Liga outings.
This will be José Mourinho’s first meeting with Elche in La Liga, the Real Madrid coach having beaten all 24 opponents he has faced in the competition to date.