Real Madrid’s history suggests Elche could face a very difficult night | OneFootball

Following their impressive victory over Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League, Real Madrid are now preparing to return to domestic action with a La Liga fixture against Elche at the iconic Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

While Real Madrid’s form in La Liga has surprised many this season, historical records suggest that this upcoming match could be far more comfortable for them than it initially appears.

For Elche, travelling to the Bernabeu has historically been one of the most difficult tasks in Spanish football.

A forbidden territory

The statistics paint a very clear picture, as in the entire history of meetings between the two clubs at Real Madrid’s home ground, Elche have never managed to secure a victory. 

Across all competitions, including both La Liga and the Copa del Rey, Elche have played 26 matches at the Bernabeu. 

The record heavily favours Real Madrid, with the hosts winning 21 of those encounters while the remaining five ended in draws.

Even more striking is the number of goals conceded by Elche during these visits. Real Madrid have scored a staggering 95 goals against them at the Bernabeu, which averages more than three goals per game.

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Elche played a 2-2 draw against Real Madrid ealier in the season. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

One of the most unforgettable moments in this history came during Elche’s very first visit to the stadium in the 1959-60 season. 

On that occasion, Real Madrid delivered the heaviest defeat Elche have ever suffered in the Spanish top division, winning the match 11-2.

Despite such a difficult historical record, Elche supporters still hold on to a few rare moments where their team came close to achieving something memorable in Madrid.

One of those occasions occurred in January 2022. In that match, Elche came closer than ever to recording a famous victory at the Bernabeu.

The team stunned the home crowd by taking a 2-0 lead late into the game. For much of the match, it looked as though Elche were finally about to break their long-standing curse at the stadium.

However, Real Madrid staged a dramatic comeback in the closing minutes, with Eder Militao scoring a late equaliser in the 92nd minute.

Meanwhile, earlier this season, Elche have already stunned Real Madrid, forcing them into a 2-2 draw, meaning that Real Madrid will have to be on their toes to keep their record intact.