Elche vs Valencia Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Lawes ·
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We have a regional derby in La Liga on Sunday as strugglers Elche and Valencia face off against each other at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero in the Community of Valencia.
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: Struggling Elche
Having survived relegation on the final day of last season, Elche parted company with Eder Sarabia and replaced him with former FC Porto boss Martin Anselmi. Anselmi’s side have managed just two victories in their ten matches so far this season.
Their tenth victory did come last weekend, though, as they hammered Rayo Vallecano by three goals to nil at Vallecas, courtesy of penalties from Federico Redondo and Fer Nino as well as a German Valera strike.
Valencia preview: Not turned around yet
Over the international break, former Mexico boss Javier Aguirre replaced Carlos Corberan in charge of Valencia as the fallen giants of Spanish football once again get set for a sustained relegation battle in La Liga.
Los Che remain firmly in the bottom three and the relegation places after they succumbed to a dramatic 2-1 defeat to Villarreal at Mestalla, due to a 96th minute winner scored by Georgia international striker Georges Mikautadze.
Elche team news: Fer Nino a doubt
A goal scorer last weekend, Fer Nino is now a doubt for the hosts this weekend due to a back injury with versatile midfielder Marc Aguado still a confirmed absentee for Elche.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Matias Dituro; Sangare, Federico Redondo, Victor Chust, Revivo; Gustavo Villar, Javi Marcillo, Lemar; Lucas Cepeda, Ezequiel Ponce, German Valera
Unavailable: Marc Aguado (Injured)
Questionable: Fer Nino (Injured)
Valencia team news: Elliott suspended
Sent off for dissent and then apologetic to Valencia supporters, Liverpool loanee Harvey Elliott is now missing through suspension with Jose Luis Gaya also a doubt for the Valencians.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Dimitrievski; Pablo Maffeo, Cesar Tarrega, De Haas, Jesus Vazquez; Ugrinic, Rodriguez, Pepelu, Luis Rioja; Javi Guerra, Danjuma
Unavailable: Elliott (Suspended), Sergi Canos (Injured), David Otorbi (Injured), Diego Lopez (Injured)
Questionable: Jose Luis Gaya (Injured), Sadiq (Fitness)
Key stats
- Coming into Matchweek 11, Valencia are 19th with six points – their joint-lowest total after ten games since 1997/98, equalling 2024/25.
- Valencia's seven goals after ten games is also their joint-fewest at this stage since 1997/98, level with 2018/19 and 2024/25.
- Valencia are winless in all six home games this season (D2 L4), scoring three – their two points are the fewest from their first six home games of a season in 30 La Liga seasons since 1997/98.
- Neither side has won at home this season – Elche have one point from four home games (D1 L3), the fewest home points in La Liga.
- Elche are unbeaten in four (W2 D2) since 18 September and have kept three consecutive clean sheets, equalling their best run since 1997/98.
- Elche are 14th with ten points and have lost only one of six away games this season (W2 D3 L1), most recently winning 3-0 at Rayo.
- Valencia are winless in four (D2 L2) since a 1-0 win at Alavés on 15 September – their only win of the season.
- Valencia lead the head-to-head W7 D2 L3 in 12 La Liga meetings since 1997/98, but Elche won the most recent 1-0 at home on 11 April 2026.
- The six La Liga meetings at Elche since 1997/98 have produced three wins each and no draws.
- Valencia's 4-0 win at Elche on 20 March 2015 is the biggest in the fixture since 1997/98.
- Valencia have won only 83 of their 269 away La Liga games on a Sunday since 1997/98 (W83 D75 L111).
‘Key stats’ are La Liga only (not all competitions)
Elche vs Valencia prediction
After defeating Rayo in the capital city last week, Elche then overcame Pinatar by three goals to one in the Copa del Rey in midweek. That means the hosts have now extended their unbeaten run of form to five matches across all competitions as they continue to show improvement. Valencia haven’t really showed much improvement since the arrival of Javier Aguirre and so siding with Elche may well be a decent value bet for this one.
Elche vs Valencia tip: Double chance – Elche to win or draw
