Valencia vs Elche Preview: Team News & Prediction
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We have a regional derby taking place at Mestalla with under pressure and relegation battling Valencia taking on one of the surprise packages of La Liga, Elche.
Kick-off date/time:
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Valencia preview: Struggling Los Che
Former West Bromwich Albion boss Carlos Corberan is under immense pressure at Mestalla with Los Che firmly involved in a relegation battle in La Liga, sitting inside the bottom three and the relegation places ahead of this weekend’s round of fixtures.
The Valencians returned from the mid-season winter break with a 4-1 hammering at the hands of Celta Vigo at Balaidos in Galicia due to a brace from Borja Iglesias as well as Hugo El-Abdellaoui and Hugo Alvarez, with Pepelu only notching a consolation.
Elche preview: Impressive Elche
Following their promotion to the top-flight last season, Elche have been very impressive so far this season as they begin this weekend sitting tucked inside the top-half of the table, albeit they did return from the winter break with a poor performance.
The visitors suffered a 3-1 defeat at home to another regional rival, Villarreal, who may well be in the title race, at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero last week, with Alberto Moleiro, Georges Mikautadze and Alfonso Pedraza scoring for the Yellow Submarine.
Valencia team news: Nothing fresh
There is nothing fresh for Valencia to concern themselves with for this weekend, with a few fringe players confirmed as absentees, such as Stole Dimitrievski, Eray Comert and Filip Ugrinic.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Julen Agirrezabala; Foulquier, Diakhaby, Copete, Jesus Vasquez; Correia, Javi Guerra, Pepelu, Almeida; Hugo Duro, Beltran
Unavailable: Dimitrievski (Injured), Comert (Injured), Ugrinic (Injured)
Questionable:
Elche team news: A few issues
Hector Fort is set to be out for a couple of months alongside striker Andre Silva, while Federico Redondo is now missing through suspension for the visitors.
Predicted XI (3-5-2): Inaki Pena; Victor Chust, Affengruber, Pablo Bigas; Alvaro Nunez, Neto, Aleix Febas, Marcos Aguado, German Valera; Alvaro, Rafa Mir
Unavailable: Hector Fort (Injured), Federico Redondo (Suspended), Silva (Injured)
Questionable: John (Ineligible)
Valencia vs Elche prediction
Valencia began the Carlos Corberan era extremely well with an intense and aggressive style of football but Los Che have since become an erratic and disorganised rabble, unravelling throughout this campaign and it is a surprise he is in situ, which is the case at the time of writing. Elche are a cohesive side with pleasant patterns of play in the final third and they will fancy themselves to get after the Valencians and put them to bed at Mestalla.
Valencia vs Elche tip: Elche to win & both teams to score
