Elche CF suffered another loss this Tuesday, this time a 0-1 defeat against Ibiza in the penultimate pre-season clash. The result is less important than what it revealed: the group looked unsettled, hungry for signings, and in need of reinforcements to strengthen the roster. The players appeared tired from intense training, and their pace betrayed the impact of the heavy load. They faced a clearly lower-division opponent and failed to register a single shot on target over the course of the 90 minutes.
Francisco could not count on injured Lucas Boyé, Pastore, or Gonzalo Verdú, nor Pedro Bigas and Josan who were sidelined. The squad looked light and fragile. Carlos Clerc, the only new signing to date, debuted after the break, operating at left-back with solid flank work and several decisive touches that hinted at potential. The team, at present, seemed to be playing with tweezers on a delicate frame.
Ibiza showed greater density and a willingness to push the pace from the first whistle, leaving Elche trailing in the opening half. The head coach lined up a system similar to last season’s end, with a single center forward, Ezequiel Ponce, who appears fully recovered from his muscle issue. Edgar Badía started in goal behind a four-man defense featuring Helibelton Palacios, Enzo Roco, Diego González, and Mojica. In the middle, Omar Mascarell and Gumbau formed a double pivot, while Raúl Guti acted as a more box-to-box option. Tete Morente and Fidel started on the wings, looking to break free and threaten, but they were often isolated.
Elche tried to build play from the back, but Ibiza pressed aggressively and disrupted the buildup. The visitors struggled to connect passes and occasionally resorted to long balls and changes of direction to loosen the rhythm. Still, Elche lacked continuity and were overtaken for long stretches by Javi Dam’s Ibiza, with Mojica providing the occasional burst of danger down the flank.
Ibiza carried more attacking momentum and looked sharper in attack, while Elche’s ideas appeared unclear and their ball retention in dangerous zones was minimal. Darío Poveda opened the scoring in the 42nd minute with a poise finish after a cross from Cifu found a lapse in the Franjiverde defense. It was a difficult first half for Francisco’s squad, a mirror of the team’s current transition phase.
At halftime, changes were rolled out: the left wing was reshaped to improve balance, Clerc entering on Mojica’s side, Pere Milla replacing Fidel on the left, and a revised defensive axis with Josema alongside Roco. The forward line was adjusted, with Murad slotting in as the sole central attacker in place of Ponce, who remained a key focal point.
In the second half, Elche appeared more organized and created more possession, pressing higher and spending more time inside Ibiza’s half. Yet Germán Parreño, a former Elche goalkeeper now with Ibiza, remained a difficult target and kept his line intact. Despite the improved movement and intensity, Elche did not threaten the target with the level of danger required to turn the match around.
The game saw a series of tactical shifts as the bench emptied, giving minutes to several youngsters. Jhon Chetauya entered in midfield as a pivot, Rodrigo Mendoza Murad offered flashes of quality in attack, and other local players like Knezevic, Alfaro, and Carlos Marco also gained exposure. By the end of the match, Elche operated with a different eleven, signaling Francisco’s ongoing evaluation of squad depth and chemistry ahead of the new season.
Francisco’s team chased an equalizer with relentless effort, but opportunities remained scarce. Only a set piece and a rising attempt from Murad offered any real danger. Preseason fixtures are about testing systems and assessing players rather than merely collecting results, but this Elche showed a clear sense of momentum and a need for reinforcements. With the league opener against Real Betis approaching in roughly ten days, the club would benefit from strengthening the squad with versatile players capable of lifting the level across the pitch.
DATA SHEET:
Elche: Edgar Badía, Helibelton Palacios (Carlos Marco, min 76), Enzo Roco (Josema, min 46), Diego González, Mojica (Carlos Clerc, min 46), Omar Mascarell (Jhon Chetauya, min 60), Gumbau (Alfaro, min 60), Raúl Guti (Rodrigo Mendoza, min 60), Tete Morente (Knezevic, min 76), Fidel (Pere Milla, min 46), Ezequiel Ponce (Murad, min 46).
Ibiza: Germán Parreño, Cifu, David Goldar, Martín Pascual, Javi Vázquez, Armando, Iván Morente, Cristian Herrera, Suleimán, Ekain, Darío Poveda. Bench: Fran Grima, Pape Diop, Gálvez, Guerrero, Rodado, Nono, Appin, Miki Villar.
Goals: 0-1, Darío Poveda, minute 41.
Referee: Sergio Claudio Muresan. Yellow cards: Gumbau (minute 36).
Venue: La Finca Golf Resort in Algorfa. Closed doors.
Citations: match report and after-action notes attributed to the competition’s coverage team and club briefings.