Elche’s struggles this season see no immediate respite in sight as they will have to gear up to face league leaders Real Madrid at the Estadio Martinez Valero on Wednesday. While Elche are still searching for their first win this season and are at the bottom of the table, Los Blancos are undefeated so far and have opened up a three-point lead at the top of the table following their recent 3-1 conquest over Barcelona in El Clasico.
Cadiz’s recent upturn in form have relegated Elche to the bottom of the pile in La Liga as the club from the small town of Elche are struggling to register wins. Their winless start to the season has seen them being one of only three teams in the major European leagues who are yet to pick up all three points from a game this season.
Los Franjiverdes became the first Spanish side to part company with their head coach this season, as Francisco Rodriguez was replaced with Jorge Almiron in late August. Given that the Argentine coach resigned as Elche boss in February, after overseeing a run of 16 games without a win, the appointment was met with surprise and disappointment amongst a fan base growing increasingly desperate for a LaLiga win.
With that being said, however, there were a few signs of improvement though in their latest display, a draw with Valencia at the Mestalla. Pere Milla scored a brace, including a spectacular header, to earn an unlikely point on their travels. Elche have now collected three points so far this season and are in desperate need of some resurgence.
A match-up with the defending champions and league leaders isn’t exactly what they wanted at this stage but Los Ilicitanos will be carrying some confidence into this tie off the back of their best performance this season. Given that they are also playing at home on Wednesday night, it should be a bigger morale boost but Real Madrid are an entirely different beast altogether and it seems likely that Elche’s miseries might be compounded further.
Real Madrid, on the other hand, couldn’t have been in more contrasting shape and form when compared to their relegation-threatened hosts. They issued a statement to La Liga last weekend and took a major step in their title defence with a 3-1 victory over Barcelona in the El Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday. That win allowed the side form the capital to not only snatch bragging rights, but also helped them open up a three-point lead at the top of the league table.
Carlo Ancelotti’s men are unbeaten in their last 18 competitive fixtures across all competitions and it goes without saying that Los Blancos are yet to be beaten this season. Real Madrid have also suffered just four losses in their last 47 league matches and they have hit top form once again this season, churning out results in formidable fashion as they look to defend their title, having only dropped two points so far this campaign.
In last weekend’s El Clasico, Ballon d’Or 2022 winner Karim Benzema broke his five-game scoring drought to open the floodgates. Fede Valverde was everywhere as he ran the show for Madrid and also slammed home the second goal with a powerful strike from just outside the box. Vinicius Jr used his electric pace and trickery to cause problems down the left flank while Toni Kroos and Luka Modric remained as important as ever. Eder Militao had little problems and won most of his battles while facing Robert Lewandowski. Rodrygo came off the bench to win, and score the penalty that decided the contest in their favour.
All of it harkens good news for the defending Spanish and European champions, especially given their turbulent encounter with Elche the last time these two sides faced each other. Intriguingly, Elche were two goals to the good against Real Madrid last season, and were only denied a famous victory by goals in the 82nd and 92nd minutes by Luka Modric and Eder Militao.
Given their current run of form, however, Ancelotti will be hoping for a more routine performance from his side on Wednesday, as Los Blancos continue to steamroll their way to another LaLiga title.
ECF vs RMA, La Liga 2022/23
Date: 20th October, 2022
Time: 12:30 AM IST
Venue: Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero, Elche
FORM GUIDE:
Elche La Liga form:
- L-L-L-L-D-D
Real Madrid La Liga form:
- W-W-W-D-W-W
Real Madrid form (all competitions):
- W-D-W-W-D-W
HEAD-TO-HEAD:
Elche wins: 0
Draws: 2
Real Madrid wins: 7
TEAM NEWS:
Elche Team News:
As far as hosts Elche are concerned, centre-back Pedro Bigas suffered a nasty clash of heads early on in that 2-2 draw at Mestalla, and was withdrawn amidst fears of concussion. According to latest reports, however, the 32-year-old has been training normally with the group since that incident and he should be available for selection here.
Winger Fidel Chaves will miss out once again because of a hamstring injury, but Gerard Gumbau will return to the squad after becoming a father on the weekend. Lucas Boye should also start up front, after serving a suspension.
Real Madrid Team News:
Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who was awarded the Yachine Trophy at the Ballon d’Or ceremony for being the best goalkeeper in Europe last season, missed El Clasico and he will continue to be sidelined. It will open up the opportunity for Andriy Lunin to start his sixth consecutive game between the sticks for Los Blancos.
Ancelotti may look to give starts to some of the players who missed that El Clasico win, meaning the likes of Eduardo Camavinga and Marco Asensio could both come into the starting XI.
Elche possible starting lineup:
Badia; Clerc, Roco, Verdu, Bigas, Josan; Gumbau, Mascarell, Guti; Boye, Milla
Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Lunin; Mendy, Rudiger, Militao, Lucas; Kroos, Tchouameni, Camavinga; Asensio, Benzema, Rodrygo
Predictions:
Given how Real Madrid have been roaring lately, there seems to be no stopping Carlo Ancelotti’s men. Besides their unexpected 1-1 draw with Osasuna, no team has even come close to snatching points off Madrid and that also includes Barcelona who got completely outplayed and outclassed for the first 60 minutes of the Clasico.
As such, Elche, winless in all of their league matches so far this season and already flirting with relegation at the initial stages of the season, could prove to be the perfect fodder for Los Blancos to kick into a different gear and smash goals for fun. Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema would certainly be licking his lips at the thought of it.
ECF vs RMA Fantasy XI No. 1
ECF vs RMA Fantasy XI No. 2
