Start of the season for Elche and Eldense
Yesterday’s Second Division SmartBank League draw places two Alicante clubs, Elche and Eldense, in the spotlight, with a mix of optimism and caution in the early days.
Elche will enjoy a relatively smooth opening, with three home fixtures in the first four rounds at the Martínez Valero stadium. The schedule pits them against Racing de Ferrol, Villarreal B, and Racing Santander, teams not initially viewed as league frontrunners.
Eldense, based in Elda, faces a stern start, traveling for five of the first seven matches against opponents widely regarded as promotion contenders. Cartagena, Zaragoza, Espanyol, Levante, and Villarreal B comprise the early schedule.
The Nuevo Pepico Amat stadium awaits modernization to meet top-tier standards, which has pushed Eldense to accept their first away trip early in the campaign.
The competition kicks off on the weekend of August 11 to 13 and the first round runs through December 20, wrapping before the Christmas break.
Weekly matches will continue for the initial 21 rounds, with no midseason holiday in this tier. Two midweek windows are scheduled, plus Friday to Sunday TV bets to cover peak moments, and a second midweek window on Tuesday through Thursday in some weeks.
Restarts on January 13
After the Christmas intermission, LaLiga SmartBank resumes on January 13 with the round of 32 that defines the course of the second half. The regular season ends the first weekend of June, followed by promotion play-offs that stretch to the weekend of June 22-23.
Inter-provincial clashes between Elche and Eldense are slated for the eleventh round on the weekend of October 13-15 at Nuevo Pepico Amat, with the penultimate round hosted at the Martínez Valero in late May 2024.
Elche begins at home against Racing de Ferrol, the rising side from the Primera RFEF. In round two they face Eibar, a favorite in the fight for promotion, then host Villarreal B and Racing Santander in succession before visiting Valladolid, the recently relegated club, on matchday five.
There is a real chance for the Franjiverdes to press for promotion from the outset.
Sergio Mantecón, Elche’s technical secretary, speaks with measured optimism about the calendar, especially its home-friendly start. He emphasizes that the league level shows high parity and that beginning with strong performances at Martínez Valero is crucial. He recalls the 2012-2013 season when Elche won the first seven games and carried momentum from start to finish. The right tone early on makes a difference.
Direct rivals
In the opening phase, Elche will meet Levante on the eighth round and Tenerife on the third. Rounds 15 and 16 bring clashes with direct rivals in the race for promotion, including Zaragoza and Espanyol.
The first notable away test for the Franjiverdes comes with a derby against Eldense in October, followed by a trip to Albacete in early November.
The second half of the season starts in Tenerife and then hosts Valladolid, demanding solid preparation for the Christmas break. By late February, back-to-back tests await against Eibar at home and Cartagena away. In rounds 32-33, Elche will face Levante and Ferrol twice. The Valencia Derby on March 24 is marked as a highlight for the fans.
A trip to Zaragoza on round 35 looms in the final stretch, followed by home fixtures with Sporting and Espanyol. The title fight remains unsettled as promotion positions tighten.
The last five fixtures feature a mix of away and home games against Racing Santander, Huesca, Mirandés, Eldense, and Leganés. The aim for the Franjiverde is to finish the regular season in the top two to seal promotion without a playoff ordeal.
A demanding start for Eldense
Eldense faces a tough baptism, returning to this level after 59 years and carrying the pressure of a recent promotion. The opening slate includes Cartagena and Villarreal B away from home, with the first home match against a strong contender such as Eibar. A visit to Zaragoza follows, then the home clash against promoted Alcorcón, and a quick turnaround against Espanyol and Levante at home.
October brings a tough sequence as Catalan rivals host Oviedo and Valladolid in consecutive fixtures. The calendar subsequently eases a bit with trips to Ferrol and home games against Amorebieta and Burgos.
On the final stretch, supporters of Barça will be treated to a home match against Albacete on the last day, paired with a first-round derby against Elche. The early weeks of the second half pose further challenges as Eldense hosts Zaragoza and Espanyol.
The plan after day 28 and 29 has Eldense welcoming Ferrol and Villarreal B, followed by two home games against Racing de Ferrol and Eibar on days 32 and 33. The season’s late phase looks especially demanding as Levante and Elche aim for promotion, with a final test against Sporting de Gijón looming.
Eldense’s technical secretary Víctor Lafuente welcomed the draw, noting the first two away matches would be difficult against Cartagena, a club aiming higher, and a showdown with a strong Villarreal youth setup. He added that the club is excited to experience first-division football at Nuevo Pepico Amat with such storied opponents.
Despite the tough start, the club remains hopeful and eager to showcase Eldense in topflight action, confident that the community will rally behind the squad as the season unfolds.