Elche CF returns from a short break to begin preparations for the next meeting, scheduled for this Tuesday Sunday, about 21 hours away, at the Jose Zorrilla stadium against Real Valladolid.
Beccacece’s squad, initially among the promotion contenders, faces the challenge of shoring up the defense after a rocky stretch. The coach must reconfigure the backline to keep pace with the opposition.
Carlos Clerc, who had established himself in the starting eleven, occupying a mixed central and left-back role, was sent off last Saturday in the defeat against Racing Santander. The Catalan player, who had logged every minute in the prior three matches, received a red card in the 75th minute for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity to the Cantabrians.
Elche’s goalless lead
J. A. Galvan
Beccacece needs to identify a replacement for Clerc, and the backline will once again undergo changes. So far this season, Elche has altered the defense in three of the four games played.
On opening day against Racing, the line-up featured Josan, Pedro Bigas, Clerc, and Salinas. In the second match at Ipurúa against Eibar, the coach preferred Álex Martín as right-back over Josan. Against Villarreal B, the defense was adjusted again with Josan returning to the right flank and Álex Martín remaining on the bench; Mario Gaspar debuted as a right-back, with Bigas on the left and Clerc continuing in his usual role. The back line found some stability in the match against the yellow team, when Elche kept a clean sheet for the first and only time this season. Beccacece then returned to the Josan–Mario–Bigas–Clerc configuration, but a defensive mismatch allowed a late equalizer, forcing a draw.
Now, facing Valladolid on Sunday, Clerc’s absence necessitates alternative options as the backline is reshaped again.
Álex Martín and Diego González are potential options, but both have fitness concerns that could rule them out against the Cantabrians.
Rest for the Elche squad, less for the wounded
J. A. Galvan
With Mario and Bigas likely to continue on the right if the position holds, Elche weighs its options in defense for the Valladolid test. Beccacece has even experimented with Salinas at left-back during the preseason, a possibility that could be revived, though it would mean relying on a defense already reduced to its core pairing with limited depth.
One issue remains prominent: too many goals conceded. The coach is known for urging an attacking style of play, yet the defense has to tighten. Elche has conceded four goals in four league matches, and the team’s vulnerability often surfaces when opponents win quick battles for the ball or exploit gaps in transition.
Two districts punish Elche
J. A. Galvan
The coach will factor these experiences into this week’s preparation as he plans the defensive setup for Valladolid. Injuries and Clerc’s expulsion have forced a reshuffle at the start of every match, including absences of Clerc, Álex Martín, and Diego González. In addition, discussions about strengthening the center of defense continued in the final days of the transfer window. The club explored European options, but negotiations with Federico Gattoni from Sevilla did not materialize; the defender preferred to stay with his current team, even if relegation was a possibility. The defensive issues persist, and Beccacece must find a sustainable solution to rebuild the back for the forthcoming battle in Pucela.