East Elche CF faced a frustrating afternoon that didn’t involve carbohydrates or bright moments. Franjiverdes suffered their third defeat in four games, watching rivals like Betis, Real Sociedad, and Villarreal tighten the pressure. The image from yesterday’s match against the yellow submarine raised concerns. Elche appeared harmless and soulless, making a climb out of the relegation zone seem daunting.
Coach Francisco’s opening strategy did not offer the clarity the team needed. The green-and-white side struggled to establish a coherent system that combined order, pressure, solid defense, and the ability to hurt opponents. The lineup featured four defenders with necessary changes on the flanks. Carlos Clerc started instead of Helibelton Palacios, and Mojica came in for the injured Pol Lirola on the right, while the viewing crowd watched from the bench of the new squad.
The plan included a mixed defense with Francisco, with Helibelton assigned to mark Lo Celso individually and track Argentina as he moved into the center. A notable change in the starting eleven saw Guti tasked with preventing Parejo from receiving the ball. The fourth alteration brought in Lucas Boyé and Roger Martí, with Argentine mobility far from peak form and fitness.
Elche began by retreating to their own half, inviting the yellow submarine’s central defenders Raul Albiol and Pau Torres to initiate the play and then pounce on the counterattack. Álex Collado found space on the left flank, where Yeremy Pino and Kiko Femenía exploited a wide corridor. Tete Morente faced repeated challenges from Pedraza, and Helibelton found himself chasing Lo Celso far from his comfort zone.
One of Emery Patience’s strengths is holding the ball and controlling tempo. On this day, Villarreal pressed Elche relentlessly. Edgar Badía had work to do, fending off a midfield surge led by Pedraza and bringing a crucial save on Jackson. The moment of real note arrived when Gerard Moreno briefly had a chance, and the goal was ruled out, only for later events to turn decisively in Villarreal’s favor. Kiko Femenía found space on a left flank and delivered a cross that the national striker converted, though Badía saved again before the final result came. The ball ended up in the net, but the play was ruled offside; nonetheless, the hosts carried a 1-0 lead after 26 minutes.
A quick defensive reconfiguration followed as Francisco shifted to three central defenders: Helibelton Palacios, Enzo Roco, and Pedro Bigas. Tete Morente and Clerc drove forward with speed; Collado operated more freely on the right. Villarreal pressed with precision and doubled the total when Parejo’s long ball found Lo Celso, who beat the defense and finished past Badía to make it 2-0 just before the half-hour mark. The sequence highlighted the visitors’ sharper link play and Elche’s vulnerability on the break.
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At halftime, Francisco made a substitution, bringing on Gumbau for the fading Guti. Villarreal, taking a clear advantage, began to think about Thursday’s European clash with Lech Poznan. Elche appeared toothless, unable to breach a well-organized defense and lacking shots on target as Rulli watched from the opposite end. The home side did not threaten the goal, and the goalkeeper had little to do beyond monitoring the proceedings.
Villarreal showed why they had not conceded in the opening days of the season, maintaining defensive discipline while waiting for Elche to expose frailties. Chukwueze crafted a notable chance that didn’t translate into a goal, and Capoue also came close. Badía again denied a third, keeping the score respectable for a time. Yet the intensity did not fade; the visitors remained compact and efficient while Elche’s competitive edge waned.
Despite the disappointing display, a 2-0 scoreline would have been acceptable for some sides, but this match told a different story. Late in the game, Coquelin and Morales seized the moment, capitalizing on fatigue in the franjiverdes ranks. Two late goals sealed a 4-0 defeat that showed a stark difference between the teams on the field. The result left Elche with serious questions about the direction of their season and a clear need for a rapid response if the situation is to be salvaged. A sense of urgency surrounded the post-match reflections.
DATA SHEET:
VILLARREAL: Rulli, Kiko Femenía, Albiol, Pau Torres, Pedraza, Yeremi Pino, Capoue, Parejo, Lo Celso, Gerard Moreno, Jackson.
ELCHE: Edgar Badía, Palacios, Roco, Bigas, Clerc, Tete Morente, Mascarell, Raúl Guti, Collado, Domingos Quina, Ponce, Boyé.
SCORES: 1-0 Gerard Moreno, 2-0 Lo Celso, 3-0 Coquelin, 4-0 Morales
JUDGE: Ortiz Arias. Villarreal cautioned Pere Milla and Roco; Jackson was booked for Elche.
EVENTS: The match was played in front of 13,915 spectators, with around a thousand Franjiverde fans in attendance as La Cerámica hosted the meeting.
Citations: Source material provided by club reports and match briefs. Attribution: Villarreal CF press and Elche CF post-match notes.