Elche faces a fragile moment. The Frangiverde camp has watched its cushion for staying in the top flight gradually lose air in recent weeks. A 1-2 loss to Real Sociedad marks a steeper climb back into a season where Francisco’s squad has now suffered multiple defeats against teams pursuing European football. That poor run has dragged the club into the relegation battle, a fight that will demand resilience in the final stretch.
Seven teams, with a potential eighth if Rayo doesn’t secure a positive result against Valencia tonight, enter a tight relegation zone. The fight threatens to be decided by a small margin, with three teams already in the danger area on 22 points. The conflict intensifies as six squads sit just five points apart, with several head-to-head clashes still to come.
Francisco: “Everything wasn’t decided three weeks ago, and now we’re not doomed”
The objective remains clear: climb out of the 18th spot, currently held by Cádiz on 28 points. Nearby sit Mallorca and Granada with 29 points. A three-point gap separates the lower end from Elche and Getafe, who have 32 points. Rayo sits just above them with 33, albeit with two games in hand.
With seven rounds left, Panorama is perilous. A single misstep could prove costly, while defeating a direct rival might supply enough oxygen to keep afloat.
In the standings, Elche enters the final phase in a position that leaves little room for error. Weeks ago the relegation margin was nine points, and that cushion has shrunk to four after four losses in the last five fixtures. The heavyweights Real Sociedad, Athletic Bilbao, Valencia, and Barcelona loomed large, pressing hard to push the franciverde team into trouble. Four tough losses without a single win during that stretch underscored the challenge. Yet, in the midst of the turmoil, Elche celebrated a hard-fought victory over Granada, a win that yielded three priceless points when they mattered most.
Elche’s upcoming opponents
The next matchday will present a similar test to the one against Granada, as Elche faces Mallorca on Saturday, April 16 at 14:00 at Martinez Valero. This is a crucial chance for Frangiverde to tighten its grip on safety and potentially seal the club’s top-flight status with a strong result.
Following that clash, Francisco’s men will travel to Seville to meet Villarreal’s searing form? No, it’s a visit to Real Betis, a team with European ambitions, where a solid performance is essential. Four days before the Copa del Rey final, Betis will clash with Valencia on Saturday, April 23. The league match against Betis is scheduled for Tuesday at 19:00 in Madrid, a high-stakes test ahead of the cup decider.
Thus, the league will pause for a breath before the final act of the season. Barça and Rayo may bear the burden of a pending fixture, but week 34 will unfold between late April and early May. Elche is set to host Osasuna in a match whose exact timing remains to be confirmed.
First Division Standings
Real Madrid leads the First Division with 72 points, followed by Barcelona and Sevilla at 60, and Atlético de Madrid with 57. The remaining European spots are claimed by Betis with 56 and Real Sociedad with 54.
At the bottom, Alavés sits at the foot with 22 points, and Levante is in 19th place. Cádiz, in a relatively safer spot compared to others, sits just above the red zone with 28 points. Elche currently occupies a precarious 15th position with 32 points, positioned just outside the most dangerous margins but far from comfortable.