Setbacks sting, but Elche’s recent losses to Cartagena and Real Oviedo hit at a moment when momentum could have carried them into festive drama. The squad had been igniting the stands, drawing fans back into the fold, and the door seemed open for a late surge toward promotion play-off positions and perhaps a direct route to the First League. The dream of climbing into the top two felt within reach as the year neared its close.
Then, in a swift reversal, the Franjiverdes faced a harsh dose of reality. In just six days two defeats in a row erased much of the momentum, echoing an early stumble against Racing de Ferrol and Eibar that had already rattled the season. The team dropped to twelfth place, two points short of the playoff zone and six behind Valladolid, while a nearby match at Villarreal B loomed on the schedule. The pressure was real and the stakes were rising as the fight for a better position intensified.
Elche’s stumble deepens with Oviedo defeat (3-2)
BAD START
Disappointments against Ferrol and Eibar had already tested the resolve of the squad, forcing them to push against the tide while aiming to close the gap with direct rivals for promotion. Yet the team showed resilience. The sequence included a narrow win over Villarreal B (1-0) and a string of draws against Racing de Santander (1-1), Valladolid (1-1), and Leganés (1-0). A strong run followed with a 4-0 win at Burgos, a goalless home draw with Levante, and a 2-0 loss at Gijón, which helped Beccacece’s leadership to survive the pressure and maintain momentum for the mid-season push.
The management’s clear message was that loyalty to the project would be rewarded with results. A breakthrough came as the team delivered four victories in six league games, defeating Andorra (1-0), Huesca (0-1), Tenerife (2-1), and Zaragoza (2-0), while settling for draws in encounters with Eldense (1-1) and Albacete (1-1). The rhythm suggested growth and potential, even as a setback at Espanyol (2-0) in Cornellà-El Prat tempered the surge. Wins against Amorebieta (2-0) and Alcorcón (0-2) kept the curve on an upward track, hinting at a late-year renaissance.
Everything pointed toward a strong finish to the calendar year, aiming for a position in the upper third of the table. Yet defeats at Cartagena and Oviedo once again placed Elche on delicate footing as the year drew to a close.
BECCACECE AND THE OVIEDO MEETING
Beccacece faced a crucial gathering in Oviedo last Friday with the team in need of a response. The working group emphasized a renewed focus on the tasks ahead, hoping to recapture the momentum that had briefly lifted the club higher in the standings. The sense was that a solid performance against Mirandés could provide the spark needed to finish 2023 on a positive note.
Last match of 2023 and a chance to close strong
There was one more game to play before the year ended, a Tuesday night showdown against Mirandés at the Martínez Valero stadium. Victory would offer a modest consolation for the fan base that had expected more from the opening phase of the season and the momentum that seemed within reach earlier in the campaign. The path toward a top finish remained uncertain, but the possibility of climbing back into promotion contention stayed alive, depending on how the players responded to the challenge.
The hope was that three points would soften the blows from earlier losses and set the stage for a brighter start to 2024. For the club, such an outcome would also remove the lingering sense of missed opportunities and reaffirm faith in the project as a whole. The calendar may be about to turn, but the core objective remained the same: push for a return to the First League while delivering a competitive, engaging product for fans who crave consistency and progress.
There is a shared understanding among supporters that a late surge could still unlock the season’s potential. The team’s focus was clear: win the final match of the year, give the supporters something to celebrate, and carry the energy into the winter period with renewed determination. Beccacece’s staff signaled that the door to a successful outcome remains ajar, contingent on disciplined play, collective effort, and timely goals that can turn the tides in a few decisive moments.
Defence would need to tighten, while the attack would have to execute with precision. The objective wasn’t merely to collect points but to reassert the club’s identity—compact at the back, swift on the counter, and dangerous when opportunities arose. The end-of-year contest would become a proving ground for the team’s character as 2023 closed and 2024 opened with new aspirations.
CLASSIFICATION:
1- Leganes 38
2- Valladolid 35*
3- Sporting de Gijon 34
4- Racing de Ferrol 34
5- Espanyol 33
6- Eibar 31
7- Elevador 31
8- Santander Race 30
9- Tenerife 30
10- Oviedo 29
11- Burgos 29
12- ELCHE 29
13- Mirandes 27
14- Zaragoza 27
15- ELDENSE 25
16- Albacete 24
17- Andorra 23
18- Villarreal B 20*
19- Huesca 19
20- Alcorcon 17
21- Amorebieta 15
22- Cartagena 15
* Valladolid and Villarreal B have one match left, they will play this Monday 20:30.