Elche vs Barcelona Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Lawes ·
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
Elche experienced a hard-fought encounter in their opener as they now take on defending champions Barcelona in what is the Blaugrana’s first game of the season.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Premier Sports / USA – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so any game may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
How to watch online: UK – Premier Player / USA – ESPN+
Elche preview: Solid start
Having narrowly avoided relegation last season in their first campaign back in La Liga under the impressive and entertaining management of Eder Sarabia, Elche have since parted company with him, replaced by former FC Porto boss Martin Anselmi.
Anselmi’s debut game in the dugout of Elche saw them travel to Galicia to face newly-promoted giants Deportivo La Coruna at Riazor with Marc Aguado’s second half equaliser cancelling out Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s opener for Depor.
Barcelona preview: Going for three in a row
Barcelona have won the league title in the last two seasons since the arrival of Hansi Flick and the Blaugrana will be expected to challenge on all fronts this time around, as stated by marquee summer signing Rodri, who has recently arrived from Manchester City.
Rodri followed the big money addition of England international winger Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United, as well as striker Karim Adeyemi from Borussia Dortmund and youngster Jesse Bisiwu from Club Brugge.
Elche team news: A few doubts
Elche are dealing with a few doubts for this one as Yago Santiago and Adam Boayar both make their way back to full fitness, while former West Bromwich Albion attacker Grady Diangana is dealing with a knee injury.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Matias Dituro; Affengruber, Federico Redondo, Victor Chust; Sangare, Neto, Marc Aguado, German Valera; Gonzalo Villar, Houary; Fer Nino
Unavailable:
Questionable: Yago Santiago (Fitness), Boayar (Fitness), Diangana (Injured)
Barcelona team news: Rodri a doubt
Having missed the Community Shield due to a supposed injury, Rodri has to be deemed a doubt, especially to start here. Frenkie de Jong and Roony Bardghji, the latter suffering an ACL injury, are sidelined.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Joan Garcia; Kounde, Eric Garcia, Pau Cubarsi, Alex Balde; Pedri, Marc Bernal; Lamine Yamal, Fermin Lopez, Raphinha; Gordon
Unavailable: De Jong (Injured), Bardghji (Injured)
Questionable: Rodri (Injured)
Elche vs Barcelona prediction
Hansi Flick, as was the case at Bayern Munich and then with Germany, has persisted with quite an extreme high-line that can often expose Barcelona against strong opposition in Europe but tends to suffocate opposition in La Liga. Home advantage and a proactive coach in Anselmi may help Elche catch Barca’s high-line off guard at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero but Barca, as will so often be the case, should run out comfortable winners in the Community of Valencia.
Elche vs Barcelona tip: Barcelona to win & over 2.5 goals
