It wasn’t the expected result, but there was a sense of optimism for Elche CF as the scoreboard finally showed a result. There were moments of good play, especially in the first half, that suggested the team could build on this performance.
The Franjiverdes pressed with more intent and created clearer chances in the opponent’s half, yet they paid for rushing the game at certain moments when control was still needed.
In the later stages, Elche found it harder to translate their pressure into a clear final pass, and in the fight for survival in the standings there were chances for both sides. The match remained open, even against a direct bruiser of an opponent.
Francisco, in his league debut against Betis, disrupted the usual defensive setup with a bold selection that included three central defenders and two wingers. He made four changes and handed debuts to Pol Lirola and Álex Collado on the right, while Tete Morente operated on the left and Eze Ponce partnered with Roger Martí in attack.
Elche’s energetic pressing, anchored by Álex Collado’s creative presence, kept possession high. The plan relied on intense pressure, looking for gaps behind the Andalusian backline and exploiting the wings to pin Almería in their own half.
As the minutes passed, the balance shifted. Almería stretched the play with long balls aimed at Sadiq and Ramazani. Among the visitors, Enzo Ro co steadied a wobbling defense and Pedro Bigas also performed solidly in the heart of the back line.
But Elche suffered another costly lapse. A Robertone corner in the 23rd minute found Sadiq, who rose to head past Lirola and give Almería the lead.
0-1 forced Elche to fight from behind. The game looked to tilt against them, yet Álex Collado produced a moment of magic to level the score with a precise strike that struck the post and went in. Moments later, Ponce surged forward to finish a play started by Roger’s cross, putting Elche ahead just before the break. Francisco’s team left the half with a compensating result, though not the lead they hoped for.
The second half opened with greater intensity and more variation in tempo. Each side brought its own approach, with quicker, more controlled passing from one team and a more physical contest from the other.
Goalkeepers emerged as the heroes in the early portion of the second half. Edgar Badía denied the visitors on three occasions, denying Ramadan and later stopping a second attempt after a previous save from a dangerous situation. Badía’s performances kept Elche in the contest when their attack wasn’t cutting through.
Francisco’s tactical plan nearly paid off again when Morente advanced from a Gumbau corner, only for Fernando to pull off a spectacular save. Morente remained dangerous on the left, and Lirola’s cross found him again, but the final touch skewed high.
Boyé returned from injury, stepping into the fray as Francisco reshaped the attacking line. His presence offered a spark, though the team’s sharper movement and finishes were lacking at key moments. Momentary bursts from the Argentine striker symbolized Elche’s willingness to push forward, even as the midfield struggled to connect the pieces.
The subs brought by Francisco—Pere Milla, Josan, and the young Quinine Markets in the middle of the park—added fresh energy, but the moves remained a touch experimental. The match recounts a steady but not decisive rhythm, with both sides trading blows and neither asserting complete dominance.
In the end, neither team could claim all three points. The game meandered toward a draw as both sides persisted in trying to seize the initiative without overexposing themselves. The fans, encouraged by the glimpses of quality, left the stadium hopeful about what lay ahead, even as the season’s early points were distributed unequally.
DATA SHEET:
ELCH: Badía; Lirola, Roco, Bigas, Mojica; Gumbau (Quina, m. 77), Mascarell, Álex Collado (Josan, m. 86), Tete Morente (Pastore, m. 86); Roger (Pere Milla, m. 77) and Ponce (Lucas Boyé, m. 67).
ALMERIA: Ferdinand; Arnau, Kaiky, Ely (Chumy, m. 80) Babic, Akieme; Eguaras, Sámul, Robertone (Leo Baptista, m. 74); Ramazzani (Portillo, m. 86) and Sadik (Dyego, m. 80).
JUDGE: Diaz de Mera (Castilla-La Mancha). Gumbau, Eguaras, Akieme and Batipstao picked up yellow cards for their sides.
TARGETS: 0-1, m. 23: Sadiq. 1-1, m. 30: Collado.
EVENTS: The match, coinciding with the second matchday of the Santander League, drew 23,361 spectators to the Martínez Valero Stadium. A minute’s silence preceded the game to honor club fans who had passed away since the previous season.