Elche’s preparations for a centennial season continued in a humid summer, marking an important third step in their fitness program. The Franjiverde side secured a 2-1 comeback against Leganés, breaking in a row their earlier friendly losses to Newcastle and Villarreal partners. Under Francisco, the squad carried more punch this time, showing that the work put in during the early sessions was beginning to translate into sharper performance, even if the overall objective remains distant from the present moment.
For this match, the Almería coaching staff deployed a formation featuring two starting central defenders. The adjustment produced a more confrontational start for Leganés, who pressed higher and established the game’s tempo early on. Elche faced the first onslaught, with their opponents crafting the initial chances and testing Dani Jiménez’s positioning with prepared, well-constructed moves.
Javi Hernández beat Palacios in a duel but was unable to keep his shot under control. His long ball accuracy stood out, while two interventions from Werner blocked Arnaiz’s attempt and then cleared Sáenz’s subsequent effort. Elche’s best early moment came after a forward surge from the defense that created genuine danger for Leganés, signaling the visitors’ intent to disrupt the flow and test the limits of their opponent’s defense.
The hydration break provided a brief pause that allowed Elche to breathe and refocus, and when play resumed, the top-category status they were developing in training was evident. Yet the balance shifted when Leganés found a goal just before halftime. Juan Muñoz whipped in a precise strike that eluded the keeper, giving the Pepineros the lead and denting Elche’s momentum as they entered the break with a sense of urgency to recover.
As the second half began, Mojica emerged as a game-changer for the visitors. The Colombian midfielder has the ability to alter the trajectory of a match, and his presence unsettled Leganés in the final third. He was narrowly denied by Naim early on after a misread moment in the region, but the referee’s whistle soon followed a penalty conceded by the defense, with Pere Milla stepping up to convert and restore parity. While Madrid’s side briefly celebrated, Elche quickly demonstrated resilience, continuing their push in the opposite half where Naim outmaneuvered Mojica and Werner cleared the danger.
Further changes complemented Elche’s plan, with Knezevic entering the fray to inject energy and balance in midfield. The Serbian’s presence helped the team regain control, and he became the assist source when Mojica’s cross found Tete Morente at the far post, who finished decisively to put Elche ahead. Morente’s goal reflected the collective work across the team to turn the scoreboard in their favor and to leverage the positional discipline that Francisco has been cultivating during training sessions.
From that moment, Elche increasingly dictated the tempo. Diego González added a third with a well-placed header from a corner, sending a clear signal of their growing cohesion in set-piece scenarios. While Leganés pressed for an equalizer, their best chance came through Gil who sprinted past the Franjiverde defense but failed to execute a clean finish, underscoring Elche’s improved defensive organization and finishing rhythm as the match swung decisively in their favor.
The final whistle confirmed Elche’s first pre-season victory of the period, reinforcing the club’s confidence as preparations continue. The training camp will maintain its focus on refining tactics and chemistry in the lead-up to competitive action. The next friendly is scheduled against Getafe, a First Division rival, with the match set to take place at the La Finca facilities in Algorfa, where the team’s current training environment remains concentrated and intensive as they approach the start of the league schedule.