Elche endured a bitter defeat to Villarreal on the final day of the league, a sting that lingered long after the final whistle. The 4-0 result left Francisco’s squad in a precarious position, occupying a position near the bottom of the table, and underscoring the challenges the team faced as the season closed. With key attackers like Gerard Moreno, Giovani Lo Celso, Francis Coquelin, and Jose Morales contributing to the scoreline, the home side had little room for optimism and was left searching for a reaction from the Ilicitanos.
Related
In the days immediately after that heavy loss, Elche found it hard to turn the tide. Only a single point from a possible twelve separated the team from the step back they took as the league progressed. A draw with Almería was followed by defeats to Betis, Real Sociedad, and Villarreal, a stretch that tested both confidence and cohesion within the squad.
Classification of Elche
Looking at the standings in Spain’s top flight, a few clubs were gradually pulling away while others were left trying to keep pace. Sevilla, Real Valladolid, and Getafe showed signs of recovery, yet Cadiz found themselves adrift at the bottom with no points, underscoring a season of struggles at the lower end of the table.
After registering four wins so far, Real Madrid sits at the top with twelve points. They are followed by Barcelona and Villarreal, each with ten. Betis holds the Champions League berth with nine points, matching Osasuna in the middle of the table. Athletic Bilbao, Atletico Madrid, Celta Vigo, Real Sociedad, and Valencia hovered around the mid-table mark with six to seven points. Mallorca, Girona, Almería, Rayo Vallecano, and Espanyol trailed with four points each.
Elche CF’s next game
Elche now braces for a Sunday fixture, awaiting a rival at the Martinez Valero. The schedule lists a 16:15 kickoff, with the Lions coming off a 0-1 defeat at Espanyol and looking to stabilize as they approach the midseason stretch.
Fans can also mark the calendar for a marquee clash as Francisco’s men travel to visit FC Barcelona at the Camp Nou, set for Saturday afternoon at 16:15, a match that promises to test the team against one of the league’s traditional powerhouses.
The following day will bring a break, after which the team will resume with a trip to Vallecas to face Rayo Vallecano on October 2, continuing a demanding schedule that tests depth and resilience.
Elche Statistics
Examining league statistics reveals that Elche’s first-choice goalkeeper, Edgar Badia, has faced a demanding campaign, with nine goals conceded placing him among the league’s most tested shot-stoppers. He sits behind Getafe’s David Soria who has allowed eleven goals and Cádiz’s Jeremías Ledesma who has conceded ten.
Midfield enforcer Gerard Gumbau stands out for discipline, collecting several yellow cards. A similar tally appears for Carles Aleñá of Getafe, Antonio Sánchez of Mallorca, Unai García of Osasuna, Copete of Mallorca, Clément Grenier of Mallorca, Rodrigo Battaglia of Mallorca, Ronald Araújo of Barcelona, and Iván Alejo of Cádiz, highlighting a season filled with competitive duels and caution flags.