Four of the seven moves the club has made so far, Elche CF faced Ferrol Racing in the league opener last Saturday for this season.
Only one of them, Alex February, started in the XI. Sebastian Beccacece kept his core group close as the season began, relying on familiar pieces.
The Catalan midfielder showed strong control and steadiness in the midfield, displaying polished ball handling and reliable distribution.
Áleix Febas: “We lost the first day with Mallorca and then we went up”
JA Galvanized
In the Segunda division, after the Galician goal, the Argentine coach sent in three more of the new arrivals. Christian Salvador entered the match in the 57th minute. Raul Guti took a central midfield role, while the Zamora holder contributed little and his presence coincided with a dip in Elche’s performance.
The Argentine coach also gave opportunities to Oscar Apartment and Nico Castro, aiming to show the quality that could alter the match in the 73rd minute. Yet the impact did not arrive.
Josan shifted to the left in midfield, moving Tand Morente to the right, but the tactical changes had limited effect on the game.
The Argentine promoter worked to press and locate the ball, delivering a good pass and a promising long-range shot, though not enough to change the outcome.
It was evident that both players showed room for improvement in form and integration with the group, especially since they had less than a week of training with the squad.
All three should contribute more. Cristian Salvador operated in a central position in front of the defense; he has been with Elche for three weeks and only completed the pre-season with Huesca. Looking ahead, next Saturday (5pm) could see him as a starter in Ipurúa against Eibar.
Óscar Plano and Nico Castro possess clear qualities to compete in the Segunda Division and are expected to play crucial roles within the squad. Time will help them adapt to the team’s style, and as the weeks pass, their understanding with teammates should improve.
Trigger from Elche on least auspicious day
JA Galvanized
The new transfer, who did not feature in the latest outing, was kept on the bench after two solid performances. The goalkeeper position showed Edgar Badia taking the starting role again, while the decision left the backup goalkeeper ready to be called upon for Cup ties or if Badia is unavailable.
Alex Martin stayed on the bench, a familiar choice during the preparation period; Mario Gaspar was also mentioned as still recovering fitness after arriving in early August and missing pre-season with the group.
Salinas and Murad
Local additions this season, Salinas and Murad, returned after their duties. Segura lined up on the left, started the match, and was substituted at the 73rd minute to allow Lautaro Blanco to enter. The Moroccan striker sat among the substitutes and did not enter play despite the team needing a goal.