This season’s Vinalopó derby features Elche’s recent relegation and Eldense’s promotion, with a return to Elda scheduled for Sunday at 16:15. The forecast suggests overcast skies and temperatures in the mid twenties, creating a backdrop for a historic match that Nuevo Pepico Amat has not hosted under these conditions for 65 years and 20 days.
Ticket sales-rate forecast for Eldense vs Elche
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Only one league meeting remains in memory
While the teams have met recently in friendlies and the Copa del Rey, the sole league encounter between Eldense and Elche in the second division occurred on September 21, 1958. Elche visited the Vinalopó stadium, then known as El Parque, and secured a convincing 4-1 victory. The follow-up chronicle described the match as a triumph with the expected result, noting the publication had just twelve pages.
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The last page from that era records the INFORMACIÓN newspaper dated September 23, 1958, documenting the clash and the celebratory tone around Elche’s win.
Elche’s lineup at that time included Isidro, González, Mezquita, Quirant, Rico, Gómez, Martí (scorer), Nito (scorer), Cardona (two goals), Guerrero, and César Rodríguez. Eldense countered with Carlos Ruiz, Castaños, Bellido, Andrés, Marco, Esparza, Paco Grande, Foncho, Enguídanos, Nicieza, and Mundo. The most recent friendly between the clubs took place in Santa Pola in July 2015.
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The historical record from the period notes that the Elche side arrived with optimism and a calm focus, and that the group’s cohesion had grown under manager César. The local fanbase showed strong support for Eldense as well, responding with applause for a determined performance. Elche’s victory at Elda sparked wide joy among supporters, while the trip back to Elche was met with signs of satisfaction across the city. Many observers believed Elche would build on its ascent from the Third Division and hoped for sustained progress into the higher echelons of Spanish football, a journey that would eventually see the club in top-flight competition for multiple seasons.
Castroverde on Elche’s promotion aspirations
The Blaugrana club endured a relegation to the Third Division before rejoining the Second League structure in later years. In the early 60s, Eldense faced a couple of seasons in new configurations, and Elche and Eldense met again in the 1958-1959 campaign at Altabix, where Elche claimed a 3-1 victory on January 11, 1959.
Four cup meetings to date
In league competition, Eldense and Elche have only one regular-season meeting to date, but cup clashes have occurred more often. Provincial cup ties happened four times, with the earliest meeting occurring before a league match in the prior season, when Elche won 4-2. It would take four decades before they met again. In the 1983-1984 season, Elche won both legs of the round-trip tie (1-2 at Eldense and 1-0 in the return). A more recent series of two-legged ties ended with Eldense advancing on penalties. Their last official fixture in the knockout rounds occurred in the 1991-1992 season, where Eldense earned a 1-0 victory in the first leg, while Elche responded with a 3-0 win in the rematch. The historical record highlights a persistent rivalry that has spanned multiple formats and eras, each chapter shaping how fans remember this regional derby.