This Wednesday, Elche CF announced the lineup for its first pre-season friendly. The match is set for Saturday, July 16, at seven in the evening, and will take place at La Finca Golf Resort in Algorfa, Vega Baja. The opponent will be Newcastle United U23, the reserve side of the English Premier League club. The decision to schedule a gradual increase in the level of opposition is part of the coaching staff’s method for building fitness and cohesion ahead of the competitive season. The head coach and his technical team want the first test to be manageable, giving players time to adapt to new tactical concepts while the squad settles into its pre-season rhythm. This approach is designed to allow the team to experiment with different formations and roles in a controlled environment, preparing them for the more demanding fixtures that lie ahead.
The match will be played behind closed doors, with the club confirming that attendance by fans will not be possible. It remains to be seen whether media access will be granted, as this will depend on further operational decisions from the club and competition organizers. This closed-doors policy is in line with many early-season friendlies used to assess players without external pressure or distractions, while giving coaching staff the flexibility to evaluate squad depth and individual development in a concentrated setting. The absence of spectators is not unusual for initial pre-season sessions and helps staff focus on performance metrics and tactical alignment.
Elche’s pre-season campaign begins on Monday, July 4, with players reporting to the training facilities in the morning for medical and fitness assessments. The preliminary friendly games in the first three weeks are intended to be lower intensity and more developmental, including a fixture against Newcastle United U23 as part of a broader plan to ease players back into competitive action. Training will take place at the Díez Iborra field within the Ciudad Deportiva Juan Ángel Romero complex, whose turf has been prepared through reseeding work begun in early May to ensure optimal surface conditions for intensive drills and matches.
During the final week of July, from Tuesday the 26th to Tuesday August 2nd, Elche will conduct a dedicated pre-season training phase at La Finca Golf Resort in Algorfa. The coaching staff has chosen to delay some decisions so that a larger portion of the squad can be integrated into the system over the course of the sessions. At present, the transfer market activity is relatively quiet, and no new signings are expected before the start of the next week. In principle, the plan is for Francisco to begin the pre-season with a squad of around 20 players, ensuring that the core group can train together consistently and build the chemistry needed for the battles ahead. This phased approach reflects a focus on stability, player conditioning, and tactical experimentation as the team moves toward the start of the season. The overall strategy emphasizes careful management of minutes and workload to reduce the risk of injuries while maximizing readiness for the opening fixtures.