Elche and Malaga Lead Early Season With Depth

Elche and Malaga lead the standings after six weeks of league play, each club having rotated more players than any other side in the opening rounds. Through six rounds, both teams have used 26 players, a figure that stands out given the compressed schedule and the limited time since the campaign began. They are scheduled to meet at La Rosaleda this Saturday at 9 p.m., a fixture that will test the depth of both squads as much as their attacking firepower and tactical discipline. The decision to deploy a broad group of players reflects a shared philosophy among the coaches about workload management, staying fresh, and preventing burnout as the calendar tightens. The mood around both clubs was buoyed by the victory over Mirandés, a win sealed by Mourad’s goal that reinforced belief across the squad even as some results elsewhere have been uneven. In terms of lineup continuity, only a small core remains central to the plans for each club: San Román continues as the substitute goalkeeper, Raúl Guti and Álex Martín keep earning minutes, while Clerc remains sidelined by injury. The depth behind them is being tested by rotation across positions, with the objective of sustaining form without sacrificing defensive organization or attacking cohesion. For broader context, teams such as Zaragoza, Deportivo, Cádiz and Tenerife are also fielding 26 players at this stage, underscoring a league-wide emphasis on squad versatility early in the season. This approach signals a clear plan from Sanabria as he balances experience with mobility, preferring to keep a flexible bench ready to respond to injuries, fatigue, or tactical shifts. The upcoming match at La Rosaleda embodies not merely a clash of talent but a practical evaluation of how well each squad can sustain intensity over the next few fixtures, and whether the heavy usage so far translates into consistency on the field. Analysts note that rotation can preserve energy for pivotal matches, keep key players fresh for defense of the league position, and provide opportunities for younger or fringe players to prove themselves. The result is a season that feels less like a sprint and more like a marathon measured in rotations, injuries managed, and timely substitutions that tilt outcomes in tight games. While the early returns include bright moments and signs of quality, the longer arc will reveal whether bench depth can sustain a demanding schedule, or if momentum built by a handful of standout performances will wane without regular top-level exposure. For now, Elche and Malaga sit atop the table, convinced that depth matters just as much as talent, and that every fixture in the calendar is an opportunity to tighten their grip on the early standings. The road ahead remains challenging, but the signal is clear: more players used means more tactical flexibility and more chances to shape the season in their favor.