Elche CF face a key test this Saturday at La Cerámica against a Villarreal side buoyed by their Champions League success. The match, kicking off at 16:15, is a huge challenge for Anselmi's men, who are chasing a second win of the season to climb away from 18th place with just 6 points, having recorded one win, three draws and four losses from their eight games. The Yellow Submarine, sitting 11th, will look to leverage their attacking prowess, being the fifth-highest scorers in the league.
Villarreal arrive after an important 3-1 Champions League win over Napoli on Tuesday. Their manager, Íñigo Pérez, has acknowledged the difficulty of balancing European commitments with league duties. "There are stretches with a run of matches where some games are 'socially more desired' and others are in between and seem to have less significance," the coach explained, while demanding "maximum concentration" for the clash with Elche. Despite their offensive threat, with Mikautadze, Moleiro and Gueye as key figures, the team has defensive frailties and is the fourth-worst home side in La Liga, with only one win at home against Levante. They also face the match without the injured Tajon Buchanan and Nicolas Pépé, though they welcome back goalkeeper Peter Gulácsi, who missed the European game after a robbery at his home.
Elche's opportunity
For Elche, this fixture is a golden opportunity. Their away win at Espanyol, a 1-3 victory achieved even with ten men, showed the team's spirit. In that match, Fer Niño, the team's current top scorer with 5 goals in 8 appearances, netted a brace. The team has taken 4 points from their last two away trips, which provides some confidence. However, the last result, a goalless draw with Celta at Martínez Valero, left a bitter taste and shows the need for more cutting edge. Recent history is not on their side, as Villarreal won the last meeting 2-1 on March 8th. Anselmi must target the weaknesses of a rival who, despite European euphoria, may show fatigue and has a somewhat shaky defence. Elche's recent form shows one win, two draws and two losses from their last five matches, and they trail league leaders Barcelona by 18 points. Across the season, the team has scored 11 goals while conceding 17. This match is next on the fixtures list and will set the tone for the weeks ahead.
More detail at cadenaser.com
