Old acquaintances from Elche are in trouble
Elche CF and Real Zaragoza face a crucial Saturday clash at 18:30, a pivotal moment in both clubs’ bid to climb into the promotion spots. Right now Zaragoza occupies ninth place with 22 points, two shy of the playoff zone and five away from direct promotion. Escribá’s squad has shown resilience this season, cresting a strong start with five consecutive wins. Since then, they have collected just seven points from the last 27 available across nine fixtures, a run that drew questions about the team’s form after four draws and a solitary win.
The side from Elche has encountered its own set of trials but is arriving in relatively better spirits. They have strung together five matches without a loss, amassing 11 of a possible 15 points. After two draws and three victories, they landed in eleventh place with 20 points, four adrift of the playoff line and seven from direct promotion. The momentum shift is clear, and the fans are hopeful that the good spell can be converted into a sustained push up the table.
From less to more Elche reached the first third of the season far beyond expectations
This upcoming encounter could signal the trajectory for both teams, especially as they prepare to start with their forwards in question. Elche will be without two key strikers, Sergio León and Borja Garcés, who remain unavailable due to injury. The squad’s left hamstring injury is part of a longer recovery, while another forward faces a first-degree tear in the left biceps femoris sustained in the derby against Tenerife. In response, Cordoban’s coach has leaned on youth and structure, with Mourad stepping up as the main striker alongside Óscar Plano, who often operates in a midfield role and has found form in recent matches.
In Zaragoza, the attack has faced its own set of hurdles. Bakis, a signing who arrived with high expectations after a prolific league campaign, has missed time due to a right knee meniscus injury. His absence tightens the forward line as the team leans more on other weapons to spark the offense. The Turkish striker has featured in ten games this season, starting nine, but has yet to register a goal, leaving a noticeable gap in production at the most advanced line.
Additionally, the squad will be without Mollejo, on-loan from Atlético Madrid, who picked up a fifth yellow card in the previous league outing and was suspended for a recent midweek match. This leaves Real Zaragoza with fewer natural attacking options and more responsibility for the remaining fringe of the attack. The home side will also need to manage a disciplined approach in a match that could define early-season ambition for both clubs.
With Bakis and Mollejo out, Escribá has placed trust in Sergio Enrich, who has featured nine times but only as a starter and has yet to score. The youngster Ivan Azón, at 20 years old, has emerged as Real Zaragoza’s most effective attacking presence, appearing in 13 games with 11 of them in the first 13 rounds and producing two goals. A potential partnership could form between Enrich and Iván Azón, with Manu Vallejo providing experience from the left flank. Vallejo, who has spent time with Valencia, Cádiz and Girona, is often deployed on the left and has contributed a goal in eleven appearances, six of them as starter.
The match at Martínez Valero represents a test for both forward lines. Each team will rely on these attacking options to unlock defenses and influence the game’s tempo. As the season progresses, the outcome of this clash could reveal much about the squads’ plans and the depth of their squads as they pursue a higher league position in the remaining fixtures.
In summary, the fixture packages the story of these two clubs: a rejuvenated Elche seeking consistency after a strong run, versus a Zaragoza side looking to translate sporadic flashes of potential into a steady push up the standings. The result could shape momentum for the rest of the campaign and set the tone for the teams’ ambitions in the coming weeks.