Elche CF prepares for a big cup clash as they aim to impress and perform well on the field. The Elche team will play Girona in the 32nd round of the Copa del Rey at the Martínez Valero stadium. The match is scheduled for Saturday at 18:00 local time and promises an exciting display for fans and neutrals alike.
The visiting Girona side arrives with a recent league title win under their belt and is regarded as one of the most eye catching teams in world football. This encounter at the Franjiverde Stadium is set to draw wide media attention and will cast a bright spotlight on Elche, its players, and coach Sebastian Beccacece. If they pull off a strong performance, the result will be celebrated across the country as a notable achievement.
Beccacece comments on the game as a chance to enjoy a challenging test for Elche, a rare opportunity to showcase their quality against a top side.
Beccacece: for Elche the Girona match invites enjoyment and is a tough challenge
The Elche squad will be backed by about 15,000 supporters who will bring a festive atmosphere to the ground. Girona remains one of the most attractive teams to watch in today’s football landscape, which elevates the anticipation around this cup tie.
Elche has already sold nearly 13,000 tickets for the cup clash with Girona, underscoring the strong local interest and the sense of occasion around this fixture. Míchel’s team is widely seen as the favourite, though cup ties often carry surprises and the Franjiverdes hope to become heroes once again.
Girona will rotate players given their league schedule against Real Madrid, which could tilt the balance in Elche’s favour to some extent. The league campaign continues next Saturday when the team travels to Tenerife, and Beccacece will have the option to field his best eleven for the cup match.
Míchel speaks on Elche being a team built for promotion and the challenge ahead
The Elche coach, having joined with a plan for progression, will rely on a line up that includes several young talents gaining valuable experience. Rodri Mendoza remains a key feature of the squad, having earned his spot in the first team. Two other young players who debuted this season will not be in the squad this time around as Pamies was with the reserve team on Friday while Adam was with the youth squad on Thursday.
As for injuries, the Argentine coach notes that only Óscar Plano misses out through injury. Josan and Nico Castro have recovered from muscle issues but are not expected to start the match, though they could feature later if needed.
Josan and Nico Castro push to reach Elche Cup match tempo against Girona
Speculation surrounds whether players like Álex Martín or Lautaro Blanco will see minutes, with early indications pointing to a starting XI more closely resembling the league lineup than the cup rotation seen in some recent ties. The team is eager to put together a cohesive performance to maximize their cup run.
A look at the probable lineups for the night
Possible lineups:
Elche: Edgar Badía; Carreira, Mario Gaspar, Bigas, Clerc, John, Aleix Febas, Nico Fernández, Tete Morente, Rodri Mendoza and Borja Garcés.
Girona: Fuidias; Arnau, Eric Garcia, Juanpe, Valery; Jhon Solís, Kebe; Portu, Pablo Torre, Savi, Stuani.
Referee: Alberola Rojas from Castile-La Mancha.
Stadium: Martínez Valero.
Kickoff: 18:00, coverage will be provided by local broadcasters.
32nd round matches schedule:
Saturday January 6
Lugo versus Atletico at 16:00
Espanyol against Getafe at 17:00
Elche versus Girona at 18:00
Huesca against Rayo Vallecano at 19:00
Alaves versus Betis at 20:00
Arandina versus Real Madrid 21:30
Sunday January 7
Burgos against Mallorca at 12:00
Amorebieta against Celta at 12:00
Racing Ferrol versus Sevilla at 16:00
Castellón against Osasuna at 16:00
Unionistas versus Villarreal at 18:00
Cartagena against Valencia at 19:00
Eibar against Athletic at 19:00
Barbastro against Barcelona at 21:00
Malaga versus Real Sociedad at 21:00
Tenerife against Las Palmas at 22:00