Real Madrid’s 2020 ended on a sour note with a 1-1 draw at Elche on Wednesday night at the Estadio Martinez Valero.
Los Blancos looked to be in control early thanks to a Luka Modric header, but the newly promoted side fought back with an early second half penalty conversion before holding on to secure the point against the defending LaLiga Santander champions.
Zinedine Zidane opted for Marcelo at left-back, making it the first match this season in which Dani Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane and the Brazilian full-back formed the Real Madrid back line. Meanwhile, up top in attack, Marco Asensio and Lucas Vazquez each got the nod ahead of Vinicius and Eden Hazard.
Marcelo has been maligned this season for Real Madrid’s mediocre results when he is on the pitch, but he nearly gave his side an early lead with a right-footed volley that thundered off the crossbar.
The woodwork would deny Real Madrid a goal minutes later, this time coming off the foot of Asensio and the fingertips of Elche goalkeeper Edgar Badia, who tipped Asensio’s hard hit onto the crossbar. But the ball fell back into play and Modric reacted first, hurling himself forward and steering a header into net for an away lead.
Real Madrid continued with the pressure and a ricochet in the Elche area that struck Victor Rodriguez was initially whistled a handball by referee Figueroa Vazquez, but VAR correctly ruled otherwise, sparing Badia from having to face a spot kick.
A penalty was called shortly after the re-start, this time in favour of Elche and this one was fairly straightforward with Carvajal clearly guilty of bear-hugging Antonio Barragan to the ground in the area. Fidel stepped up to take the spot kick and tucked it away past Thibaut Courtois to bring Elche level.
Real Madrid upped the tempo in hopes of regaining control and re-taking the lead, but Elche hung touch and almost had the go-ahead goal themselves when a Lucas Boye left-footer skimmed the post.
Soon enough, though, Los Blancos had Elche pegged back deep in their half and Badia was called on to make saves on close-range chances for Carvajal and Ramos.
But Real Madrid were unable to pick the lock a second time, so Zidane turned to Hazard, Fede Valverde and later Vinicius for a spark off the bench. Karim Benzema nearly struck for a late winner, but could not find the post, and at the death Courtois was called on to save a Verdu freekick, leaving Real Madrid with a sour taste to end 2020.
Match Sheet:
1.- Elche: Badia, Barragan, Verdu, Josema, Mino, Marcone, Rigoni (Josan, min. 74), Josema, Fidel, Victor Rodriguez (Tete, min. 74), Boye (Carrillo, min. 87).
1.- Real Madrid: Courtois, Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo, Casemiro, Modric, Kroos (Fede Valverde, min. 78), Lucas Vazquez (Hazard, min. 77), Benzema, Asensio.
Goals: 0-1, min. 20: Modric; 1-1, min. 52: Fidel (p)
Referee: Figueroa Vazquez (Andalusian).
Yellow cards: Ramos (Min. 21) for Real Madrid, Sanchez Mino (Min. 42) for Elche, Casemiro (Min. 60) for Real Madrid, Carvajal (Min. 66) for Real Madrid, Kroos (Min. 71) for Real Madrid, Verdu (Min. 73) for Elche
Red cards: None
Stadium: Martinez Valero
Attendance: 0
