The reasons for this trend are varied. Some observers say it’s easier to commit a foul against Elche than against other La Liga greats. Others view the early phase as a signal of weakness, yet the data places the franciverde side among the top five in the league for fouls committed. A troubling counterpoint is that this stat doesn’t align with recoveries, where one might expect fouling to reflect grit and force. In this episode, Elche sits at the bottom in several defensive metrics.
Bigas, the most healer
Centre back Pedro Bigas stands out as Elche’s most reliable ball recuperator in the opening eleven La Liga games, recording ten recoveries in his first eleven appearances. He stopped 46 opponents and reclaimed the ball for his team, while totaling 17 tackles. His contribution towers over the rest of the squad. Mascarell and Pere Milla recorded 35 and 4 recoveries respectively, with Helibelton Palacios posting 34 recoveries and 12 ball recoveries. Curiously, Johan Mojica played only the first three games with Elche, recovered the ball 33 times and intercepted four times before transferring to Villarreal, where he played three more matches, illustrating the impact he had on the franciverde side. The list also highlights players like Gumbau, Raúl Guti and Eze Ponce for their sustained influence.
Elche risks its life in 9 days
J.A. Galvan
Beyond the narrative, the data show a team coached by Jorge Almirón pressing with a clear plan, as referees have called a total of 181 fouls. Real Sociedad lead with 212 fouls conceded, followed by RCD Mallorca (209), Valencia (191) and Getafe (183). The cleanest teams in the league include Athletic Club with 151, Valladolid with 151, Betis with 129, and Real Madrid with 114 fouls. Being among the higher foul-earning sides comes with consequences, as Elche also ranks high in yellow cards, currently sitting behind Mallorca and Sevilla with 40 yellows. Only Mallorca 44 and Sevilla 42 have more cards, while Espanyol and Real Betis also sit with notably fewer yellows, alongside Athletic Club with 17 and Real Madrid with 13 coming in at the lower end of the scale.
Gumbau, the most scolded
The player with the most yellow cards for Elche so far is Gerard Gumbau, with four warnings. He is followed by Tete Morente, Pere Milla, Omar Mascarell and Helibelton Palacios, each with three cards. Jonh Chetauya, Gonzalo Verdú and Lucas Boyé have earned the three red cards recorded by the team this season.
The players with the most fouls are Gerard Gumbau and Lucas Boyé, tied at 16 each. Next come Palacios and Eze Ponce with 14, and Roger Martí, Tete Morente and Enzo Roco with 11 fouls apiece. As seen in other teams, fouls and penalties do not always correlate with momentum in the return game. It is notable that Athletic Club is among the few teams with fewer fouls and fewer sanctions, yet they also sit near the top in ball recoveries and overall possession. Elche, by contrast, appears closer to the opposite end of the spectrum.
verbena defense
J.A. Galvan
Frangiverde is currently the team with the fewest ball recoveries in La Liga. They have reclaimed the ball only 699 times when the opponent is in possession. In contrast, Athletic Club imposes relentless pressure and has recovered the ball about 1,050 times. Real Madrid sits around 723 recoveries, while the white team is known for losing the ball less often, particularly on counterattacks, a general strength for a side that aims to control the pace of play.
Small ball, small attack
Since Jorge Almirón arrived, possession has been a focal point. The Argentine coach wants Elche to build from the back, dominate possession, and create more scoring chances from controlled play. This approach drew questions earlier in the season and contributed to a challenging stretch that saw a winless run stretch to sixteen games. At present, Elche sits third from bottom with 41.3% possession. Only Cádiz and Getafe have lower percentages, while Barcelona leads possession by a wide margin, with a significant gap over Elche.