HE Elche CF finds itself in a dangerous spiral of separation, with the most worrying bit that there are eight more days left to finish the championship.
None of the Franciscono almiron none machinenor now, beccacece? They managed to fix the course. This team has no power to beat anyone.
Faced with a rough Valencia and besieged by his agony, the franchise played one of the worst games of the course. Very little was produced, and Pipe Dam scored three points in the permanence challenge, which stands for pure oxygen.
A goal after 18 minutes, the product of Elche’s defensive mismatch; and another at Gonzalo Verdú’s own door, on the edge of halftime. It was enough for the victory needed to move toward the capital of Turia, in front of nearly 5,000 enthusiastic Ché fans who turned Martínez Valero into their Mestalla yesterday.
The resignation in the Franjiverde community is clear as they watch their helpless team fall to the canvas at the slightest blow. They do not have the ability to react when a goal is conceded. This provokes despair among fans, who have remained patient and understanding, never ceasing to encourage. They love their players at various moments of the match. They even sang to the owner of the Elche club: “Bragarnik go now.”
“Elche is First Class” ends with “Bragarnik, go now”
The moment captured a broader mood about a club trying to stabilize after a tough run.
Despite Beccacece thinking about the next season, the early results opened a troubling picture. Four losses in four matches placed the future in jeopardy, and the image shown by the Franjiverde team was the most negative element.
To alter the course, the coach shifted the system and deployed three central defenders for the first time. Gonzalo Verdú emerged as a central figure, remaining on the field as the Argentinian coach started the match. Verdú’s afternoon was heavy with responsibility, contributing to two goals in his own net and near misses that left the crowd unsettled. At halftime, he was replaced by Roco, who also found no immediate solution to Cartagena’s challenge.
The Elche technician looked to bring depth through wingers. Tete Morente and Clerc started in the wide areas, but the plan faltered early. In the 17th minute, an injury to Bigas forced a reshuffle. Lautaro Blanco moved to left wing and Clerc took a left-back role. A minute later, Valencia struck first, starting from the goalkeeper Mamardashvili’s clearance, Cavani won the aerial duel, Verdú failed to clear, and Fidel lost track, letting Lino slip in for the opener.
Bad vibes for Elche with Bigas injury
The scoreline opened at 0–1, boosting Valencia and easing the pressure on their ranks. On the next move, Valencia pressed again, and Edgar Badia prevented a second goal against Lino with a superb stop. The crowd exhaled as the score stayed tight but the momentum clearly leaned Valencia’s way.
Fans of Valencia felt the weight lift as the match progressed, while Elche faced growing frustration. Beccacece’s team battled with more heart than football and failed to create meaningful pressure on their opponents. A cross from Lautaro Blanco that Fidel could not convert kept the suspense taut into the 38th minute, leaving the Ché defense briefly unsettled.
Just before halftime, misfortune struck again. A cross from Gayá looked harmless, yet Verdú and the defense misconnected, and the ball found the back of the net. Desperation overtook the Franjiverde players, especially their captain, who saw that nothing positive followed the opportunity to play a meaningful game that day.
Calm second half, ché
Very little happened after the break. Baraja chose to sit back, defending the lead with confidence in his squad’s shape. Elche sought control and dominance of possession but could not translate it into danger. Beccacece brought on Álex Collado and Nico Fernández, hoping to destabilize the game after Raúl Guti and Pere Milla were faded out. Neither Catalan nor Argentine managed to turn the tide.
The Elche coach also spared a player who had tested his patience during the match. Josan remained in the dugout, but his appearance was brief, and he watched Crevillentino leave the bench with little effect. A handful of late crosses hardly tested the goalkeeper, and the game drifted toward its finish with Valencia still comfortable and Elche still searching for a spark.
Fans witnessed a closing act where Valencia enjoyed the moment, even singing their local hymn, while Elche endured the moment with a mix of affection and disappointment. The mood in the stands reflected the tough reality: a season under strain, with a club that had promised much but faced a long road back to stability.
Baraja then rotated locally, giving chances to Javi Guerra, Alberto Marí and Diego López—a trio meant to inject energy against a struggling Elche, already pressed by injuries and sanctions. Alberto Marí, a rising talent from Alicante, produced moments of quality and even forced a save with a half-volley from a tight angle by Edgar Badía.
Elche wandered the field, appearing almost lost amid the unfolding events. The match left the Franjiverde faithful battered—many chose to leave early, worn down by a season that did not meet expectations. The fear now is simple: if the team cannot beat opponents in the remaining eight games, the path ahead will be a true ordeal. The outlook looks dark, and supporters crave a conclusion to this difficult chapter.