Elche’s starting 11 against Osasuna: Boyé and John innovations, Mascarell continues as centre-back
There was a clear aim to identify the kind of system that would guide Elche CF under their new coach, Sebastián Beccacece. The Argentine manager arrived with a plan that leaned toward a flexible defense, even as he approached the lineup differently from his predecessor Pablo Machín. The idea wasn’t to lock into a single shape at all times. Instead, Beccacece balanced a back line that could feel compact yet capable of pushing forward with intent.
After two early matches on the green-sod bench, with Barcelona and Osasuna among the initial tests, Elche’s approach began to reveal two trends. A defense that could shift into a five-man block when necessary, with three central players and two wide options, and at other moments a more traditional four-man back line. The transition looked smooth, with the team adapting as the game demanded, maintaining organization while inviting a bit more push in the wide zones during attack.
In Beccacece’s first duel against the Catalans, Helibelton Palacios was deployed in his natural role as right-back. The Colombian, who had mostly played centre-back under Machín, found himself stepping into a broader defensive responsibility. Central to the plan was maintaining a steady distribution by the holding midfielder and allowing Omar Mascarell to drop in, enabling quicker ball circulation and a clearer outlet for the defense to release the ball. Beside him stood Pedro Bigas in the heart of the central block, providing a sturdy presence, while Carlos Clerc operated on the left flank. In attack, Clerc pressed high and acted like a winger; in defense he shifted inside to form a back three with the other two defenders. On the left side, Lautaro Giménez functioned as a winger going forward, yet settled into the left spine during retreats, echoing the tactical work of Morente who was involved in similar movements in the previous match at El Sadar.
Elche’s starting lineup against Osasuna featured Boyé and new contributions from John as notable changes, with Mascarell continuing to anchor the defense as a central player. The setup suggested a thoughtful blend of width and central solidity, designed to keep the balance between defense and a quick switch to attack as opportunities appeared, while preserving the team’s shape in transition.
It may have looked like a tactical novelty, but the approach mirrors patterns seen under another Argentine manager who favored a similar defensive structure. The framework included Nahuel Molina at right-back, with a pair of central defenders like Savic and Giménez forming the core, and a left-back who could contribute both defensively and in attack. When the team defended, the left flank often slotted into a defensive line, ensuring a disciplined shape while supporting the build-up from the back. The resemblance to those systems underlines a practical philosophy: set a compact defense, use intelligent positional shifts, and rely on wing players to influence both ends of the pitch.
These are the tactical arguments Beccacece has studied and adapted from his fellow countrymen, aiming to have two players on the left wing who can contribute to both attack and defense. This arrangement creates potential balance on the left side, enabling Elche to press higher and widen their options on the break. In the early two Elche fixtures, this trend appeared to take hold, signaling that the new coach’s vision might be here to stay. The players’ roles are aligned with Beccacece’s intent: maintain compact lines, deploy dynamic wingers, and keep the central axis flexible enough to adjust to different opponents. The squad appears eager to translate this plan into consistent performances, building an identity that can adapt to various challenges while keeping the defensive line disciplined and the attack fluid.