Elche vs Real Madrid Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Lawes ·
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Elche look set for a long, hard and sustained relegation battle in La Liga once again as they welcome Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid to Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero.
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: Relegation battle for Elche
Elche survived relegation on the final day of last season under the management of Eder Sarabia but he has since been replaced by former FC Porto boss Martin Anselmi, who has overseen a winless start to their campaign.
Two draws and three defeats in their five matches has heaped the pressure on the Argentine with Elche earning a second point of the season with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Athletic Club at San Mames at the weekend.
Real Madrid preview: Strong Madrid
Jose Mourinho has won five of his first six matches across all competitions at the start of his second stint in charge of Real Madrid as Los Blancos recover from a 1-0 loss to Real Betis with victories against Internazionale and then Rayo Vallecano.
In a Madrid derby against Rayo at the Bernabeu the other day, Madrid ran out 4-1 winners with a brace scored by Kylian Mbappe as well as goals from Alvaro Carreras and Jude Bellingham.
Elche team news: Nothing fresh
There are no fresh injury concerns or suspension issues for this weekend with midfielder Yago Santiago remaining their only current injury absentee.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Matias Dituro; Sangare, Federico Redondo, Victor Chust; Tete Morente, Javi Morcillo, Gustavo Villar, Revivo; Buonanotte, German Valera; Fer Nino
Unavailable: Yago Santiago (Injured)
Questionable:
Real Madrid team news: Rotation for Madrid
Enforced by suspensions in the UEFA Champions League last week, Real Madrid have been able to rotate and rotate effectively recently – and that is again expected to continue here.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Dean Huijsen, Cucurella; Fede Valverde, Thiago Pitarch; Brahim Diaz, Guler, Vinicius Junior; Mbappe
Unavailable: Eder Militao (Injured), Mendy (Injured), Rodrygo (Injured)
Questionable:
Elche vs Real Madrid prediction
Mourinho is seemingly in a much better mood than he has been in the past and perhaps was throughout his first stint at Madrid – and the fun the players are having is shining through on the pitch, too. Elche are a proactive team under Martin Anselmi but they lack quality, as was the case in the second half of last season and another comfortable Real Madrid victory is to be expected for this one in the Community of Valencia.
Elche vs Real Madrid tip: Real Madrid to win -1 handicap
