It could have been even worse for Madrid, who had been down with eleven minutes left but managed to rescue a point way to a Luka Modric penalty and a 92nd-minute header from Eder Militao. Lucas Boye and Pere Milla had put Elche in sight of a shock victory.
But dropped factors in opposition to a group combating for survival this season may have come as a welcome bonus for Sevilla, who would have predicted to be punished for their own draw at home to Celta Vigo on Saturday.
Benzema's damage is perhaps the largest difficulty. The Frenchman become clutching his left hamstring as he walked down the tunnel in the 2nd half. Madrid will desire it is not anything extreme, with their Champions League first leg in opposition to Paris Saint-Germain simply over 3 weeks away. It completed a depressing afternoon for Benzema, who had neglected his first penalty as a Real Madrid player after scoring all of his previous 16.
Sevilla also got here from two right down to claim a 2-2 draw on Saturday earlier than Atletico Madrid went one higher, convalescing from a -intention deficit to beat Valencia three-2 on a weekend of comebacks. It means the distance among Sevilla in 2nd and Real Madrid is lower back to 4 points and each sides perhaps cease the weekend with a sense of an opportunity overlooked.
Eden Hazard turned into given his personal opportunity after Carlo Ancelotti surpassed him a rare start and even as the Belgian became absolutely one among Madrid's extra innovative players, he went off within the 79th minute, just before his crew's revival began.
Before kick-off, all of Madrid's players came out wearing wide variety eleven shirts in tribute to Paco Gento, who died elderly 88 on Tuesday. On show have been Gento's 12 league trophies and 6 European Cups.
Real Madrid did just sufficient to create a handful of probabilities inside the first half however typical they were lethargic, their passing sloppy and the sharpness of latest performances missing. Still, it looked like it would be sufficient when Vinicius Junior changed into hacked down through Helibelton Palacios within the thirty third minute and the referee pointed to the spot. The usually reliable Benzema, even though, blazed over.
The omit galvanised Elche, who had defended resolutely and then gave themselves some thing to protect. Yohan Mojica despatched a ball down the left for Fidel to run onto, and he crossed into the area in which Boye was loose to nod in.
Madrid had a whole half to make amends but located it tough to click on into equipment and have been now not helped with the aid of Benzema departing. Hazard thought he had a penalty after taking place beneath Diego Gonzalez's task however the replay showed touch was mild and the choice was reversed. The probabilities grew increasingly strained, with shots rushed or from distance.
