According to announcements from the Alicante club’s social channels, Elche and Intercity are set to meet in a spectator-free friendly on Wednesday, December 14, at the Martínez Valero stadium. The match will serve as a low-stress test for both squads during the World Cup break, a period when teams in the top Spanish division tune up to sharpen form before resuming league play in late December. It is framed as a practical step in the teams’ preparation and a chance for players to demonstrate readiness for the second half of the season.
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VL Deltel
This upcoming fixture marks the fourth pre-season test for Pablo Machín’s squad after their initial results against West Bromwich Albion (1-0 victory), Leeds United (1-2 defeat at Festa d’Elx), and Genk (3-2 loss). The game is designated as a training match, with the longer-term aim of building confidence and team cohesion ahead of the Copa del Rey’s second round, which is scheduled to be hosted at the Pedro Escartín stadium on Tuesday, December 20. That fixture will be the final preparatory challenge before continuing in the competition.
Machín’s plan centers on heightening sensations on the field while giving minutes to players returning from injury, including Fidel Chaves, as the squad prepares for the resumption of the league schedule against Atlético de Madrid on Thursday, December 29. The immediate objective is to regain momentum after two difficult results against Leeds and Genk and to set their path straight ahead of the next domestic cup tie against Guadalajara.
Elche lost to Genk in the last friendly match (2-3)
INFORMATION
Intercity competes in the First RFEF, the third tier of Spanish football, after earning promotion as group champions last season. Guided by coach Gustavo Siviero, the club has seen rapid growth since its inception but faces the typical challenges of a newcomer to higher competition. At present, Intercity sits near the bottom of its group in the relegation zone, and a regional derby against Alcoyano is on the docket for this Sunday. The squad’s ranks feature several veterans with notable trajectories, including goalkeeper Manu Herrera, who played a pivotal role during Zamora’s historic promotion season in 2012-13, defender Rafa Gálvez who previously appeared in the first division, and forward Benja Martínez, a key contributor in the promotion campaigns of 2017-18. The roster’s blend of experience and ambition underscores the club’s ongoing push to establish itself at higher levels of Spanish football.