A fatigued Elche secured a win and impressed Getafe this morning, becoming the first top-tier side they faced ahead of the season. It marked the fourth friendly for Francisco’s squad, who won by a narrow margin thanks to Mourad’s goal and showed strong attitude and focus for the majority of the match. The encounter took place at 10:30 am on the La Finca Golf Resort field in Algorfa, where the franciverde team has been assembled since Monday night to complete a concentration phase.
Elche arrived with several notable injuries and absences. In addition to the already announced losses of Lucas Boyé and Ezequiel Ponce, Gonzalo Verdú returned from a prior friendly with a recent injury, and Pastore was also ruled out as a precaution. The newly formed Carlos Clerc was absent as planned, while José Salinas did not suit up as the club prepared for a competitive XI. As a result, Francisco fielded what he believed to be the strongest lineup available in that moment. Edgar Badia started in goal, with Enzo Roco and Diego González as centerbacks and Johan Mojica and Helibelton Palacios deployed as the wide players.
The midfield trio included Gerard Gumbau alongside Raúl Guti, who exited the field in the 34th minute with an apparent limp. Omar Mascarell came on to reinforce the engine room, while Fidel Chaves and Mourad supported the forward line, with Tete Morente and Pere Milla operating higher up the pitch. The formation fluctuated between a 4-4-2 and a more fluid attacking set, occasionally deploying one or three strikers depending on the moment.
The match opened with Elche asserting control. Early exchanges featured two risky Gumbau free-kicks and a Getafe defender’s intervention for a potential handball. Diego applied pressure on a Getafe attacker in the box, nearly forcing a penalty decision, while Mourad and Guti tested the goalkeeper with attempts that reflected Elche’s intent in the opening minutes. In the 17th minute Mourad converted a finish near the line after Fidel set up a superb cross from Palacios. It was a sharp, clinical finish that showcased the French-green attack’s hunger to seize opportunities.
Elche maintained the upper hand as the half progressed. After the hydration break, Quique Sánchez directed Flores’ team and Elche’s dominance shifted sides. About 31 minutes into the game, Alex Unal unleashed a powerful free kick from close range that was brilliantly repelled by Edgar Badia. The ball soon returned to the danger zone, and Unal appeared to be pushed in the box, but the referee waved play on. The first half ended with no further scoring, though Elche continued to press.
Disappointing as it was for Elche to see Raúl Guti leave the pitch in the 34th minute, his substitution allowed Mascarell to take control of the tempo and stabilize the midfield. The forward line remained engaged, with Morente and Milla pressing high and looking to exploit gaps behind Getafe’s backline. A later moment saw Josan replace Tete Morente as the half concluded, a change the broadcast could not clearly verify due to the behind-closed-doors setup.
The second half began with Elche pressing the visitors and seeking a second goal to seal proceedings. Josan and Mourad combined repeatedly, with Mourad again testing the goalkeeper and his teammates exploiting spaces created by the movement. A dangerous counter from Getafe in the 56th minute nearly altered the balance, but an accurate header from close range wandered narrowly wide as Elche’s defense regrouped quickly. The hosts remained in control, though the day’s rhythm was gentler than in earlier friendlies, and Francisco adjusted to maintain solidity while introducing fresh legs.
At the 58th minute, Josan finished a clever assist from Mojica with a precise touch inside the box, but the assistant referee flagged offside, denying a deserved goal. The moment demonstrated Elche’s capacity to craft meaningful opportunities even when a goal doesn’t follow. Substitutions continued at pace from the 62nd minute onward, with Bigas and John coming on for Roco and González. Elche’s control persisted through the midfield and half-spaces, with multiple steals and incisive passes testing Getafe’s shape.
Five changes followed around the 69th minute as several players entered the fray: Josema, Bane, Carles Marco, Alfaro and Rodri. Palacios, Mojica, Milla, Gumbau, and Fidel were withdrawn as the team preserved its structure while rotating personnel. Rodri and Mourad operated higher up the pitch, providing continued threat to Getafe’s defense. Despite the turnover, Elche remained in command and kept pressing with intent.
In the 73rd minute Mourad controlled a superb pass from Bigas and curled a shot that beat the keeper but struck the crossbar, a moment that summed up Elche’s day: close, decisive, but just missing a second. Rodri’s movement caused further disruption in Getafe’s backline, and a late yellow card to Carles Marco highlighted the competitive edge on show. Ünal’s late attack and Elche’s attempts to defend against counterpunches signaled a match played with intensity and purposeful intent.
As the whistle blew on a performance that ranked among Elche’s best pre-season efforts, the team took away a sense of progress despite notable injuries and absences. The match underscored the squad’s base strength and its potential ceiling, while also signaling the need for additional signings to guarantee a strong La Liga start in 19 days. The performance illustrated a group capable of competing at a high level, with clear signs of cohesion and resilience that supporters can look forward to in the weeks ahead. (Source attribution: Elche CF press notes)