This economic capacity of First Division clubs to charter flights enables teams to travel on the same day as the match. If their return is at night, as might happen in a dramatic schedule, Cadiz-Elche today is a clear example of that efficiency, with Cadiz and Elche arriving within hours of kickoff.
A Franjiverde squad conducted its final week training session on Sunday behind closed doors at the Martínez Valero stadium. Elche players were summoned this Monday, at nine in the morning, for breakfast at the Franjiverde pavilion and a bus transfer to the Alicante-Elche-Miguel Hernández airport for their trip. The plane was scheduled to depart at 10:30 a.m., heading to Jerez de la Frontera since Cádiz lacks a commercial airport with direct access. The team will move onward from Jerez to their Cádiz base.
From there, the official Elche coach would lead the travel party, carrying all necessary equipment. The route covers 43 kilometers between Jerez and the coastal city known as the Tacita de Plata.
The group’s headquarters will be the Cadiz Parador, where a light activation session is planned on arrival to help recover muscles. After settling in, there will be meals, a walk, and rest. Pablo Machín will deliver the technical briefing, and the squad will train at the Nuevo Mirandilla stadium around 19:30 in the evening.
After the encounter, the delegation will spend the night in Cádiz and return the following day, Tuesday, with a training session scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m. upon arrival back in Elche. In principle, and subject to official approval, the Franjiverde coach has 21 players available. John and Álex Collado are absent due to injuries, while Pedro Bigas is suspended.
Elche’s defense looks ahead, with Josan and Nico Fernández Mercau training almost normally in recent sessions and both having recovered from their muscular injuries. The winger from Crevillente has also recovered from a wrist fracture in another player, the Argentinian, and barring a last-minute change, both will stay with Elche to face Osasuna on Sunday at 16:15 at the Martínez Valero stadium.
The club has welcomed two new signings: Lisandro Magallán and José Ángel Carmona, with Gonzalo Verdú and Domingos Quina returning after serving sanctions. Pol Lirola is recovering from injury and there is ongoing talk of a possible departure from Elche for Lirola.
The squad now features 21 first-team players, with no call-ups from the reserve team for this match. In the past weeks, Carles Marco, Jesús López, and Alejandro Alfaro played with El Ilicitano yesterday against Villarreal. Manu Cocca continues to recover from an ankle issue and one more goalkeeper, Juanpe, has a finger injury on one hand.
Elche’s youth boat remains a source of optimism as the first team consolidates its plans for the near term. The coach has named 19 players for the last match against Celta, but with the current 21-man roster, he believes the squad is balanced for Cádiz and beyond.
The squad list includes goalkeepers Edgar Badía and Axel Werner, defenders Helibelton Palacios, Pol Lirola, José Ángel Carmona, Gonzalo Verdú, Enzo Roco, Lisandro Magallán, Diego González, Carlos Clerc, and Lautaro Blanco; midfielders Omar Mascarell, Raúl Guti, Gerard Gumbau, Domingos Quina, Fidel Chaves and Tete Morente; and forwards Lucas Boyé, Pere Milla, Roger Martí, and Ezequiel Ponce. These names form the core group ready to challenge their opponents on the road and at home, as the season continues to unfold.