Elche CF prepared for a regional Valencian Community derby this Saturday with a final training run of the previous week, a session held behind closed doors at Estadio Martinez Valero. The focus was clear: a battle against Valencia CF set to kick off on Sunday at 14:00 local time inside the Martinez Valero arena.
The gathering was a focused, closed-door session at Martinez Valero where coach Sebastian Beccacece laid out the tactical plan and the exact requirements he wants his side to execute in the upcoming duel. This match marks Beccacece’s first opportunity to steer Elche to a win as coach, following a sequence of results that included tough lessons from recent fixtures. Elche’s campaign has featured defeats to clubs like Barcelona, Osasuna, and Girona, each offering a different set of challenges to sharpen the team’s approach ahead of the derby.
Key personnel issues shape the squad as kickoff approaches. Gerard Gumbau misses the Valencia test after accumulating five yellow cards, while Ezekiel Ponce remains unavailable due to a suspension tied to disciplinary accumulation. The Argentine striker also had to serve a card-related ban after a red-card incident at Montilivi on the previous Sunday, further thinning the attacking options available to the coach for this midweek clash.
In addition to those sanctions, the squad faces injury concerns. Jose Angel Carmona has made the already difficult decision to end his season due to a significant hamstring tear sustained during the Barcelona match. Helibelton Palacios also faced a setback and had to withdraw in the first half of the Girona game due to muscle problems, ruling him out of the Valencia match and the next fixture against Celta de Vigo at Balaídos. Recovery is anticipated within a tight two-day window, with a view to returning for the trip to Rayo Vallecano. The next home match is scheduled for Saturday, April 29, at 16:15, with Martinez Valero again playing host.
Match marathon for Elche in April
VL Deltel
Following the midweek exertions, the Elche players gathered for a team meal at their base before heading to the Port of Elche hotel in the Torrellano Industrial Park for a late-evening briefing. They were set to rest, then travel to the green-green coliseum around midday on Sunday, aiming to maximize focus and energy levels for the derby showdown.
Beccacece called up a 23-man squad for the Valencia match, including the starting lineup that features the first-team squad supported by the presence of Jesús López from the reserve side as a third goalkeeper in case of need. The coach has also noted a positive return for Fidel Chaves after a calf problem that kept him sidelined during Osasuna duty, alongside a period of suspension that has now concluded. Although Edgar Badía did not travel to Girona for personal reasons, the intended plan is to maintain depth across the goalkeeping role and the central spine of the team.
Fidel ready to return
JA Galvanized
The current roster for the Valencia clash is clear and varied, with a mix of experienced campaigners and younger talents prepared to seize the moment. The goalkeeping trio comprises Edgar Badía, Axel Werner, and Jesús López, ready to cover every eventuality across the ninety minutes. In defense, a robust line includes Pol Lirola, Omar Mascarell, Pedro Bigas, Gonzalo Verdú, Diego González, Enzo Roco, Lisandro Magallán, Carlos Clerc, and Lautaro Blanco, all tasked with preserving solidity at the back and supporting transition play with measured aggression.
In midfield, the engine room features Raúl Guti, Pape Cheikh, John Chetauya, Josan Ferrández, Nico Fernández Mercau, Fidel Chaves, Tete Morente, and Álex Collado, a group designed to balance control with incisive, vertical passing that can unlock compact Valencia blocks. Up front, the attacking options include Lucas Boyé, Pere Milla, and Randy Nteka, the trio expected to offer movement, pace, and a range of finishing options to trouble the Valencia defense and convert chances into goals. It is a dynamic lineup designed to maximize the home advantage and push for a crucial three points in the derby context.