the fourth day of la liga in the 2022/23 season is upon us, with elche chasing their first win as they prepare to visit villarreal. the franjiverde side travel to the ceramic stadium to face a team that has already started strong, making the trip to valència’s ciutat de valència feel almost symbolic. although the home-field advantage will be smaller than usual, elche faces a stern test against one of the league’s best early-season sides, unic emery’s villarreal project collecting 7 points from 9 while still chasing its first goal of the campaign.
behind the scenes, the transfer market has added drama to the match as jon mojica, one of the league’s top left backs, is involved in a high-stakes storyline. until a few hours earlier, he was expected to wear villarreal colors, but calendar quirks and market peculiarities altered the plan. mojica could now debut against his former club, adding a personal subplot to the encounter.
this fixture brings together several notable names from both squads. at elche, alex baena and nicolas jackson have been among the standout performers, while at villarreal, a talent recently loaned to the club under the guidance of ix collado has justified his early promise. this player has already shown impressive quality during the loan spell and is credited with scoring elche’s sole goal of the season so far, underscoring the potential impact he can have on the match.
the storyline is not just about individuals but the broader balance of the competition. both teams arrive with different objectives, yet their paths cross in a match that could carry more history than some expect. the game is scheduled for sunday, september 4, at 6:30 pm local time. viewers in canada and the united states will find coverage on movistar la liga—an exclusive concession for the platform that hosts the whole day’s games. this fixture is not available on dazn, so fans with movistar plus or orange tv will be able to watch the match without needing other services.
movistar, dazn and orange: the la liga broadcast puzzle on tv and the voices to tell it
the alternative is to follow the game live through the information section. the coverage will begin an hour before kickoff and will include up-to-date lineups for both teams as well as other pertinent details surrounding the match.
villarrreal – elche’s call and potential lineups
for villarreal, injuries to juan foyth and alberto moreno, plus a doubt over danjuma, limit options but do not erase them. unai emery can still assemble a competitive XI and set up a plan that favors aggression in attack while keeping defensive solidity. in goal, rulli is anticipated; the back four of femenía, albiol, pau torres and pedroza remains a familiar foundation. the central midfield is expected to feature looped combinations with focussing players such as lo celso and parejo, while capoue or coquelin may contest the other midfield berth. in attack, gerard moreno’s position looks secure, with options for partners and wingers that could swing the game. chukwueze and yeremy pino will be in a running duel for the right flank, while the left side may see commander morales pushed into play depending on the tactical needs, with jackson likely to be selected to lead the line.
an alternative approach could see villarreal deploy a five-man defense to shield the backline and sacrifice a forward, a tactical nuance that could shape the match’s tempo and spacing.
elche signs and the defender additions as mojica departs
on the elche side, injuries to fidel chave s, verdú, and lirola, along with a doubt over mascarell due to illness, shape the selections for the upcoming clash. the probable elche lineup would feature badia in goal, with a back line including palacios, roco, bigas and cler c, who is expected to return to the starting role. the midfield could see collado and morente operating on the wings while gumbau and quina control the middle. up front, lucas boyé is likely to start, joining roger martí in attacking support and aiming to translate previous performances into decisive actions on the night.
the coach also retains the option of shifting to a compact five-man defense in certain phases, supporting the idea of a lone central striker while the rest of the team tightens around the spaces created by a dynamic forward line.
villarreal’s injury list is not extensive but includes players who may miss out. with foyth and moreno sidelined and danjuma a doubt, emery still has a range of tactical choices for the lineup. in goal, rulli will guard the net; the defense may remain anchored by femenía, albiol, pau torres and pedroza. the central engine room should feature parejo and lo celso, while capoue and coquelin vie for a single deep-lying slot. the attack is where decisions matter most, with moreno supported by potentially chukwueze or pino on the right, and jackson perhaps locking in a starting role on the left, should the coach prefer a different balance up front.