Lack of goals has been a major hurdle for Elche CF this season. The Franjiverdes sit among the lower scorers in the Second Division LaLiga Hypermotion, having netted 14 goals so far. That tally places them behind most of the teams in the relegation zone and far from a comfortable safety margin.
Only Huesca with 11 and Cartagena with 13 have managed fewer goals than Elche, who find themselves one rung above the drop. Tenerife sits a spot ahead of them, and Oviedo trails just behind; both teams have also managed 14 goals to their credit, making Elche’s goal drought even more pronounced when compared to their direct rivals.
In response to the scoring drought, the Elche club acted quickly during the final stretch of the transfer window, reinforcing the attack in an effort to lift the Franjiverde offense. Outlets were brought in, including Lucas Boyé, Pere Milla, and Ezequiel Ponce, all intended to inject pace and finishing quality into the frontline.
The incoming reinforcements arrived just as the deadline loomed, with Sergio León and Borja Garcés also being added to the list of attacking options. Both players are experienced and proven scorers in Spain’s second tier, expected to bring both goals and leadership to the squad.
Yet injuries created a bottleneck. Two players from Melilla and another from Córdoba were sidelined, limiting the timely availability of León and Garcés. The two even spent time in the medical room together, a reminder of how fragile a season depends on the health of a few key attackers.
During this period, Mourad was the lone pure number nine in the squad, while Óscar Plano took on the creative and offensive responsibilities. The Madrid-born playmaker emerged as the team’s top scorer with four goals, carrying a heavier burden while the strikers recovered and integrated.
In the strikers’ absence, Óscar Plano became Elche’s top scorer
JA Galvan
Leon found the net twice in eleven appearances, and Garcés registered a single goal in seven appearances. The plan for the upcoming match, scheduled for Sunday at 16:15 against Amorebieta, centers on presenting a full artillery of attacking options. Beccacece aims to trust Sergio León and Borja Garcés together again, a combination that has not featured on the field in Elda since last October.
The recovery of the on-loan striker from Atletico Madrid has progressed steadily. A strain in the left biceps femoris had kept him out for much of the campaign, but in recent fixtures against Royal Zaragoza and another, he has featured in the dying moments. In both games, he created chances that were denied by the opposing goalkeepers, Dani Rebollo and Pacheco.
Borja Garcés smiles again
VL Deltell
Following a two-week training block with the first-team group, Garcés is ready to start on Sunday against Amorebieta.
Sergio León’s injury crisis began in the state derby against Eldense on October 15. An injury to the semimembranosus muscle in his left leg caused a partial tear of the involved tendon, leaving his return time in question and initially suggesting a lengthy layoff close to three months, with a potential return after the Christmas break.
However, León’s rehabilitation has progressed well, and Elche’s front line is eyeing a comeback this Sunday. His recovery has shown positive signs, with him participating in most of the team’s training sessions in recent days.
He was often seen performing most exercises with teammates, and there was speculation that he could even be part of the squad for the Espanyol match. Doctors and the coaching staff, however, treated such speculation as premature and risky, emphasizing a cautious approach to reintegration.
If all goes smoothly, León may at least be available off the bench for the match against the Basque team.
Sergio León has shown strong determination during his rehabilitation. He has continued exercising with the squad and even attended stadium sessions on days off. The sense around his return has grown stronger, and the belief is that the Córdoba striker could be back in action soon.
Sergio León wants to play for Elche again against Amorebieta on Saturday
JA Galvan
Rodrigo Mendoza and John will not be in the squad for the upcoming game. In Tuesday’s session, John did most of the work with the group but remains in a gradual return from a fibula surgery performed on July 19. Initial forecasts had him ready by November, yet recent weeks have brought lingering discomfort that has slowed his comeback.
Rodrigo Mendoza also faces a tough path to match fitness. A muscle issue in the last game against Espanyol kept him out, and a subsequent day of physiotherapy and light training did not provide a clear timetable for a return. It seems unlikely he will be in the matchday squad against Amorebieta, as the team prioritizes recovery and readiness.
Both players are under close supervision as they work back to peak condition, but a late-season return remains possible if progress continues steady and uneventful.
Elche continues to push for offensive productivity, hoping that a healthy frontline—bolstered by the new signings and the returning squad members—will translate into better results in the run-in. The road ahead is challenging, but the club remains focused on maximizing the scoring threats at its disposal and stabilizing the attack for the rest of the campaign. [citation: team press materials and match reports].