Elche CF has faced a notable pattern on matchdays that kick off the league season in their home stadium. After Monday’s draw with Almeria, the team has not managed to secure a win in the opening league game in front of their supporters for decades, a trend highlighted by reports from EFE. The last time Elche won their first home league match was long ago, during the 1977-78 season, when they defeated Hercules 2-0 on the second matchday, marking a memorable triumph against their storied football rival.
Since that 1977-78 victory, the franciverde club has repeatedly entered the season’s opener without a home win. In recent times, they have collected draws on opening weekends: a 0-0 stalemate with Athletic Club and a 1-1 draw with Granada occurred on the second half of different campaigns, including the 2014-15 season and the 2013-14 campaign respectively. These results illustrate a persistent difficulty in translating home support into an immediate league victory on the first day.
Elche’s other opening-day performances at their stadium have not fared well either. The club has suffered defeats in those early matches, with a 0-1 loss to Valencia in the 1984-85 season, a 0-3 defeat to Barcelona in the 1988-89 season, and a 0-3 setback against Real Sociedad in the third season of the 2020-21 academic year. These outcomes reflect a historical challenge for Elche on the very first league outing in front of their home fans, as noted in reports by EFE.