MADRID (Reuters) - Real
Madrid were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Elche on Sunday afternoon as the visitors went close to avenging last week’s Copa del Rey defeat to the La Liga leaders.
Lucas Boye and Pere Milla looked to have given Elche a winning lead with goals in the 42nd and 76th minutes and things got even better for the visitors when Karim Benzema smashed a penalty against the bar, before leaving the game with a hamstring injury.
However, in the 82nd minute Real Madrid were given another penalty and Luka Modric made no mistake and Eder Militao headed home an equalizing goal in injury time.
The result leaves Real Madrid four points clear of Sevilla, who came back from 2-0 down at home to Celta Vigo to salvage a point, but nevertheless dropped two points in their title chase.
With coach Julen Lopetegui missing through illness, Sevilla were hit by two goals in three minutes from Franco Cervi and Iago Aspas in the 36th and 39th minute.
Papu Gomez and Oliver Torres came on at halftime and were vital for their side as Gomez scored and Torres netted the equalizer in the 74th minute.
FC Barcelona struggled to beat struggling Alaves in a match in which Xavi Hernandez’s men struggled to play much fluid football. The only goal of the game came five minutes from the end when Jordi Alba combined with Ferran Torres to set up Frenkie de Jong for a simple finish.
Real Sociedad were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Getafe, while Athletic Club Bilbao rounded off a week that saw them knock FC Barcelona out of the Copa del Rey, with a 1-0 win away to Rayo Vallecano.
Missing six first team regulars, Athletic ended Rayo’s unbeaten home record at their Vallecas Stadium thanks to a 30th minute volley from 18-year-old Nico Serrano, who was making his first appearance in Athletic’s starting 11.
Atletico Madrid showed the spirit that has been lacking recently as they fought back from 2-0 down at home to Valencia. Yunus Musa and Hugo Duro had given Valencia the lead, but second half goals from Matheus Cunha, Angel Correa and Mario Hermoso, with the last two in injury time, produced a brave turnaround.