Elche Keeps Belief Alive After Tight Draw
Without teeth to hurt opponents and goals to win games, it will be difficult. Elche CF showed more hunger than Valladolid, especially after halftime when the Franjiverdes pinned their visitors in their own half. A late chance hinted at a win, but the chances were not taken, and the scoreboard reflected a modest draw that felt far lighter than the action on the field at the Martinez Valero stadium.
The Franjiverdes had to settle for a point. There was little reward against a Valladolid side that constrained Elche’s defense at various moments in the first period, making life uncomfortable for the home team before the break.
For the third consecutive match, Beccacece kept Nico Fernandez in the starting XI, though the formation shifted. Unlike his previous role as a second striker in Heliodoro Rodríguez López’s setup, Fernandez operated on the right wing and embodied a younger, more dynamic presence. Rodrigo Mendoza led the attack in the first half, drifting left and dropping deeper to support play in a manner similar to Óscar Plano when he was fit, while Mendoza worked as a wider option in the early stages.
The opening phase unfolded with mutual respect and a hard-fought battle for possession. Both teams pressed intensively, seeking quick, precise passes to unlock defenses. Elche found most success down the left flank, where Rodri, Tete Morente, and Clerc linked up, while Valladolid tried to exploit Iván Sánchez on the right to grid the width and threaten from the opposite flank.
After a high-intensity spell, a moment of misfortune shifted the balance. At the 25th minute, Mendoza appeared to finish after a defensive miscue by Boyono, but the referee ruled out the goal because the ball had brushed Mendoza’s hand before the finish. The check stood, and play continued with both sides keen to gain the upper hand before halftime.
Another potential breakthrough came in the 33rd minute when Dituro mishandled a cross from Iván Sánchez. Clerc looked to convert a follow-up with a header, but the play was whistled for offside, denying Elche a chance to apply pressure from a dangerous position. The closing period of the first half saw Beccacece push for a quicker tempo and more aggressive pressing, culminating in Mendoza delivering a curling shot that skimmed the crossbar just before the break.
Before the interval, Carreira delivered a dangerous cross that John directed toward the goal, only for the defense to clear in time. The half closed with both teams level and the sense that another goal could come from any spark of inspiration.
The second half began with Elche asserting control. Possession and field position tilted in their favor as Valladolid struggled to reach Dituro’s area. The Franjiverdes pressed with purpose, building through midfielders such as John, Febas, Rodri Mendoza, and Nico Fernández, whose work rate kept the tempo high. Bigas remained a constant threat, providing solidity in defense and a driving force in midfield.
In the 56th minute, the home side pressed with strength in the penalty area. John surged forward to join the attack, firing with his left foot as Masip anticipated the shot, keeping the ball out of the net. Elche continued to push, but the breakthrough remained elusive, and Valladolid grew more resilient as the clock advanced.
The coach then rotated for more mobility, bringing on Nico Castro and Manu Nieto to inject pace and freshness. Although the substitutes added energy, the desired end product did not emerge, and the scoreboard stayed intact. The team experimented with more forward options, including reshuffling players to create a two-forward pairing, but luck did not swing in their direction.
In the 79th minute, John again found space from a free kick set by Nico Fernández and directed a header toward the goal, only to see the effort skim the post with Masip beaten. Valladolid appeared content with the draw, defending stoutly and staying compact to deny late chances.
Elche persisted with attacking intent, but the Pucelanos stood firm, resisting the pressure as the clock wound down. In the closing minutes, tactical adjustments had Elche’s wing players moving wide and the central forwards pressing to convert a late opportunity; still, the visitors held their ground and the match finished with a draw that was perhaps kinder to Valladolid than to the home side.
Beccacece continued to press for a striker as the team remains without a regular scorer. The absence of Sergio León, who did not take the field, left a noticeable gap, prompting discussions about transfers when the winter market window opens. In the broader view, the result kept Elche four points from a playoff position and three points clear of the relegation safety line, while maintaining a buffer from the direct promotion spots.
DATA SHEET:
Elche: Dituro, Carreira, Mario Gaspar, Pedro Bigas, Carlos Clerc, John, Áleix Febas (Borja Garcés, m.89), Rodrigo Mendoza (Nico Castro, m.68), Nico Fernández, Tete Morente (Josan, m.89) and Mourad (Manu Nieto, art.68).
Valladolid: Masip, Luis Pérez, Boyono, David Torres, Escudero, Juric, Meseguer (De la Hoz, m.72), Moncho (Raúl Moro, m.82), Iván Sánchez (Kenedy, m.82), Anuar (Lucas Rosa, m.72) and Sylla.
JUDGE: Lax Franco from the Murcian school. He showed yellow cards to Mendoza (m.26), Escudero (m.63) and De la Hoz (m.75).
STADIUM: Martínez Valero in front of 12,334 spectators. Members of the Elche National Police performed the honorary opening ceremony on the occasion of the 200th anniversary.