HE Elche CF, the capital city’s team, is preparing for the late-night clash against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu. The match, initially scheduled for last week, was postponed as Madrid pursued a late-ditch victory in the Club World Cup in Rabat, Morocco, where the Spanish club emerged victorious.
Elche strengthens before heading to Madrid
VL Deltel
Green fringe expedition left the city by AVE at 9:40 a.m. on Wednesday. The train carried players, coaching staff, and support personnel from Alicante to the capital. The team will base itself at a hotel near the Madrid arena, with lodging located within easy reach of the venue.
Fidel and Nteka were photographed boarding the morning train to Madrid as the squad began its journey for the upcoming league challenge.
Upon arrival in Madrid, a light recovery period followed a light meal and rest. The squad then held a brief activation session ahead of the meeting led by Pablo Machín.
Machín will be without Omar Mascarell and Helibelton Palacios, who are serving one-match suspensions after accumulating five yellow cards. Pere Milla underwent collarbone surgery last Wednesday after suffering an injury in the previous Villarreal contest.
Elche also remains without Alex Collado, who is back in the city to recover from an adductor issue, and with youth player John Chetauya in the final stages of rehabilitation after a fibula fracture sustained at the end of December.
Machín called up 22 players. A notable inclusion was Spanish-Senegalese Pape Cheikh, added to the squad after the club announced his signing during the days prior to the travel period.
Pape Cheikh, the new addition for Elche CF
VL Deltel
Cheikh’s return comes with the aim of strengthening the midfield alongside Tete Morente, who recently endured disappointments in Seville and Villarreal due to a toe issue. Pedro Bigas was unavailable for the respective match against the yellow-sub team after receiving a suspension. To prevent any risk with goalkeeping, Jesús López, in the squad as a third option, will be available for duty alongside the regular keepers.
Pape Cheikh joined the squad and is presented as a valuable reinforcement for the midfield units, with Morente seeking to recapture his offensive drive after recent setbacks.
Wanted list:
goalkeepers: Edgar Badia, Axel Werner, Jesús López.
defenders: José Ángel Carmona, Pol Lirola, Gonzalo Verdú, Diego González, Enzo Roco, Pedro Bigas, Lisandro Magallán, Carlos Clerc, and Lautaro Blanco.
midfielders: Gerard Gumbau, Raúl Guti, Pape Cheikh, Josan Ferrandez, Fidel Chaves, Tete Morente, Nico Fernández.
strikers: Lucas Boyé, Ezequiel Ponce, and Randy Nteka.
Real Madrid vs Elche — MuchoElche has been trending as the team gears up for a crucial clash in the capital.
— Elche Football Club
Following the meeting, the Elche squad will spend the night in Madrid and return by AVE train the next morning. The team will head back to the Martínez Valero stadium for recovery and preparation ahead of the next league fixture.