Elche vs Sevilla Preview: Team News & Prediction
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
Elche have perhaps been the surprise package in La Liga as they now welcome an inconsistent and chaotic Sevilla side to the Community of Valencia this weekend.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – 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 / Disney+ / US – ESPN+
Elche preview: Entertaining Elche
Elche come into this one on the back of a 2-1 defeat to Real Betis in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey at La Cartuja in Seville the other day in a game in which Leo Petrot had established an Elche lead before a Chimy Avila turned things around.
Following their promotion to the top-flight last season, Elche have been very impressive with an intense and front foot style of football under the management of the extremely confident and often abrasive Eder Sarabia.
Sevilla preview: Inconsistent Sevilla
In the summer, Sevilla appointed manager Matias Almeyda and the Argentine has overseen some genuinely excellent performances, notably their hammering of Barcelona, but their form has since been extremely inconsistent.
The Andalusians come into this one on the back of a three-match losing streak in La Liga, having most recently suffered a slender 1-0 defeat to Celta Vigo at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan due to an 88th minute penalty scored by Marcos Alonso.
Elche team news: A few injuries
Elche are dealing with plenty of injury issues for this one as defender Hector Fort remains sidelined, while the likes of Pedro Bigas, Rafa Mir and Andre Silva are all doubts.
Predicted XI (3-5-2): Matias Dituro; Victor Chust, Federico Redondo, Petrot; Alvaro Nunez, Neto, Marcos Aguado, Aleix Febas, German Valera; Alvaro, Yulli Santiago
Unavailable: Hector Fort (Injured)
Questionable: Pedro Bigas (Injured), John (Injured), Rafa Mir (Injured), Silva (Injured)
Sevilla team news: AFCON absentees
Sevilla still have players away at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations with Chidera Ejuke and Akor Adams in the third place playoff with Nigeria, while Marcao is missing through suspension.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Vlachodimos; Jose Angel Carmona, Gudelj, Kike Salas; Juanlu, Agoume, Mendy, Oso; Sow, Gatito; Isaac Romero
Unavailable: Marcao (Suspended), Adams (International duty), Ejuke (International duty), Vargas (Injured)
Questionable: Cesar Azpilicueta (Injured), Suazo (Injured), Alfon (Injured)
Elche vs Sevilla prediction
Sevilla already had a limited squad and so the sale of Dodi Lukebakio late on in the summer made them even worse before the absentees of Ejuke and Adams further limited their capabilities. Elche are missing a couple of key players in the final third, such as Rafa Mir and Andre Silva. Elche will fancy themselves to at least avoid defeat at the Manuel Martinez Valero, given just how poor Sevilla have been.
Elche vs Sevilla tip: Double chance – Elche to win or draw
