Real Madrid go to Elche with the sort of attacking form that usually shifts a preview before the first whistle. Jude Bellingham has three goals and three assists in five league outings, while Kylian Mbappé arrives with six goals in four La Liga appearances. The league table does not need much help to make Madrid look stronger, but their front line is doing plenty of that work already.
Madrid's attacking form
Bellingham's start is the more rounded one. Three goals and three assists in five league outings is a strong return from midfield, and it fits with the way he has been used more freely. Mbappé has been even more direct. Six goals in four La Liga appearances is the kind of early output that makes every away trip feel awkward for the other side.
Real have also come through a tricky little run with momentum intact. They followed a 1-0 defeat to Real Betis with a 2-1 win over Inter Milan and a 4-1 win over Rayo Vallecano. That is the more relevant detail than any pre-match noise. Madrid are second in La Liga and three points behind Barcelona, and they are arriving in this fixture on the back of results that suggest the attack is carrying the side cleanly enough.
Elche's task on 16 September
Elche have not made life easy for themselves. They have taken two points from five games and conceded 13 goals in that run, which is a poor enough platform against a visiting team built around Bellingham and Mbappé.
There is also a growing list of issues around the squad. Yago Santiago is in the latter stages of recovery from a knee procedure but is unlikely to feature before the international break. Kevin Lomonaco could feature in the matchday squad for the first time since arriving from Independiente on transfer deadline day.
The balance of the fixture still points one way. Elche vs Real Madrid is set for 16 September, and Madrid's current attacking numbers make them the clear favourites going in.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →
