Real Madrid News
A closer look at Real Madrid’s astounding record against Elche ahead of LaLiga clash
Real Madrid are looking to capitalise on their recent winning run as they take on Elche CF in midweek.
After the 1-0 defeat at the hands of Real Betis, Real Madrid are coming on the back of two back-to-back wins against Inter Milan and Rayo Vallecano, though neither of the performances was convincing enough.
Jose Mourinho’s men now shift their sights to the upcoming game against Elche, and if history is anything to go by, this should be a slam dunk for the club.
Real Madrid’s exceptional record vs Elche
Real Madrid are unbeaten in their last 10 meetings with Elche, winning seven and drawing three.
Even more impressively, they have scored in every single one of those 10 games, racking up a staggering 24 goals in the process.
Their away form against Elche is equally strong. Los Blancos are unbeaten in their last six visits to face the side, winning four and drawing two.
That kind of consistency will give Mourinho’s men plenty of confidence heading into the fixture, particularly as they look to build momentum after a mixed start to the campaign.
On paper, then, this represents an excellent opportunity for Real Madrid to extend their winning run and keep pace with Barcelona at the top of the table.
Potential roadblocks for Real Madrid
However, Real Madrid would do well not to take anything for granted, given some of the issues that have crept into their recent performances.
The most glaring concern has been a lack of concentration, particularly in the second halves of matches.
Against Rayo Vallecano, Real Madrid looked disjointed after the break, allowing their opponents a couple of dangerous openings despite eventually running out 4-1 winners.
A similar pattern was evident against Inter Milan, where the team eased into a 2-0 lead before inviting unnecessary pressure and conceding late on.
That profligacy in front of goal, combined with defensive vulnerabilities when the team is stretched, has been a recurring theme.
Elche, meanwhile, will have nothing to lose and could pose problems if Real Madrid switch off, as they have shown a tendency to do.
Mourinho will therefore demand greater focus and intensity across the full 90 minutes.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid resolve their pitch problems as the Bernabeu surface returns to good condition
After years of problems with the pitch, Real Madrid now believe that those issues are now a thing of the past, reports MARCA.
For several seasons, the playing surface at the Santiago Bernabeu had become one of Real Madrid’s biggest headaches. Five pitch changes in a single season, paint used to disguise its poor appearance on television and criticism from all sides.
The club had been trying to solve the problem for some time and now, they believe they have finally found an answer.
The Bernabeu begins to put its turf problems behind it
The latest operation was accelerated following the NFL game between the Miami Dolphins and the Commanders, forcing the club to replace the playing surface in just 72 hours to meet the deadline last season. This time, however, there was an important difference.
After establishing that the underlying structure was in good condition, Real Madrid decided to retain the existing turf panels and hybrid stitching system rather than remove everything and start again.
The new grass was installed over the existing base after being cultivated for several months. The variety selected was RyeBlue Deportivo, a high-performance mixture consisting of 50% perennial ryegrass and 50% Poa pratensis.
Real Madrid hoped the combination would provide a definitive solution. The club’s groundskeeping team has since refined the maintenance process, and the results are encouraging.
The Bernabeu is now in a condition that satisfies the club, and there are no plans to make further changes to the playing surface during the season.
It is the outcome Real Madrid have been pursuing for years, following a situation that eventually concerned the players themselves.
Major concerts remain the Bernabeu’s outstanding challenge
While the pitch problem appears to have been brought under control, the return of major concerts remains the Bernabeu’s biggest unresolved issue.
Real Madrid have spent months working to address the noise problems that forced them to suspend large-scale concerts.
The work has included soundproofing improvements and other measures designed to prevent noise from escaping the stadium. However, there is still no confirmed date for the return of major events.
Real Madrid believe the work carried out has brought the stadium closer to an optimal level of sound insulation.
Several areas have been reinforced to reduce noise escaping outside, with particular attention paid to entrances, enclosures and other points through which sound waves could travel.
The structural soundproofing work is understood to be nearing completion, with final architectural finishing work and official sound-emission tests still outstanding.
In the meantime, Real Madrid are exploring ways to make a return to large-scale events more feasible.
The aim is to make full use of the improvements already completed and establish a model that allows the club to revive an activity that was one of the major commercial attractions of the renovated stadium.
Until that becomes possible, Real Madrid continue to explore other ways of generating revenue from the Bernabeu. Corporate events, award ceremonies, conferences and private celebrations remain among the alternatives.
For Real Madrid, resolving the pitch issue is a significant step forward. Restoring large-scale entertainment to the Bernabeu remains the next major objective.
