Elche’s 2022/23 season remains a headline of negative news. After 16 league matches, the French club has yet to win and sits with only 4 points. The numbers paint a stark picture for one of Europe’s struggling sides.
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Among the UEFA competitions, only two teams share a darker record than Elche in their current campaign: Paços de Ferreira in Portugal and Airbus UK in Wales. Paços de Ferreira has drawn twice in 14 matches and has suffered six straight defeats, scoring just one goal in the run. They face Chaves this Sunday hoping to reverse a slide that has pulled them 10 points away from the relegation playoff zone. Airbus UK has the unenviable distinction of a negative tally in domestic play, with one draw in 19 fixtures and a three‑point federation penalty looming over their standings.
The rest of Europe’s bottom sides are generally faring better than Elche. Italy’s Cremonese has yet to win in Serie A but has seven draws that offer some relief. Moldova’s Dynamo-Auto sits at the bottom with zero points despite a six‑point penalty that had initially softened the blow. In the broader picture, four teams in Europe’s top leagues press close to Elche’s plight: Southampton in England with 12 points, Schalke 04 in Germany with 9, Angers in France with 8, and Verona in Italy with 6.
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Other than the Elche narrative, a wider snapshot of European leagues highlights a few notable patterns. In Albania, Teuta Durrës closes the table after 15 rounds with 14 points. Andorra’s Sant Julià sits last after 14 rounds with 8 points. Armenia’s Noah occupies the bottom after 20 matches with 12 points. Austria’s Hartberg has 11 points after 16 games. Azerbaijan’s Sebail ends week 18 with 10 points. Belgium’s Seraing is last after 18 games with 11 points. Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Igman Konjic holds 17 points after 19 weeks. Bulgaria’s Spartak Trnava has 8 points after 18 matches.
Croatia’s Gorica is last after 16 days with 7 points. Cyprus’ Olympiakos Nicosia trails with 9 points after 17 games. The Czech Republic’s Pardubice close the table with 10 points after 16 days. Denmark’s Lyngby sits last after 17 matches with 8 points. England’s Southampton is last in the Premier League table after 18 games with 12 points. France’s Angers remains at the bottom after 17 days with 8 points. Germany’s Schalke 04 is last after 15 days with 9 points. Gibraltar’s College 1975 has 3 points after 10 days, entering the relegation phase. Greece’s Ionikos has 8 points after 16 days. Hungary’s Vasas has 15 points after 16 rounds. Israel’s Ironi Kiryat Shmona sits with 12 points after 16 days.
Italy shows Verona at the bottom with 6 points after 16 rounds, while Cremonese has 7 points and faces Verona in an upcoming match. Kosovo’s Ferizaj is last after 18 rounds with 13 points. Luxembourg’s Fola Esch closes the table with 10 points after 15 days. Malta’s Pietà Hotspurs trail with 4 points after 14 days, though a win is noted. Moldova’s Dinamo-Auto remains at 0 points after 14 rounds, even with a six-point penalty. Montenegro’s Iskra sits last after 19 weeks with 17 points. Netherlands’ Volendam has 6 points after 14 games. North Macedonia’s Skopje is last after 16 matches with 11 points. Northern Ireland’s Portadown has 5 points after 22 matchdays. Poland’s Miedz Legnica closes the table after 16 rounds with 12 points. Portugal’s Paços de Ferreira finishes with 2 points after 14 rounds.
Romania’s Mioveni holds 9 points after 21 rounds. Russia’s Torpedo Moscow closes with 6 points after 17 games. San Marino’s Murata trails with 6 points after 12 games. Scotland’s Ross County has 16 points after 20 games. Serbia’s Radnik Surdulica is last after 19 rounds with 8 points. Slovakia’s Liptovský Mikuláš has 9 points after 18 rounds. Slovenia’s Tabor Sežana sits with 12 points after 20 rounds.
Spain’s Elche holds 4 points in the relegation zone after 16 days. Switzerland’s Zurich is last with 12 points after 16 matchdays. Turkey’s Istanbulspor sits last with 11 points after 16 games. Ukraine’s Lviv finishes 14th with 9 points after 14 rounds. Wales’ Airbus UK remains at negative-2 points after a 3-point deduction following matchday 19.
Leagues in Belarus, Estonia, the Faroe Islands, Finland, Georgia, Iceland, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden either haven’t started or have only recently kicked off the season.
Portugal: Paços de Ferreira with only 2 points in the final standings after match day 14.
Spain: After 16 days, Elche is in the red light position with 4 points.
Wales: Airbus UK are at the bottom with minus 2 points due to a penalty.
The ongoing seasons across Europe show a stern reality for several clubs fighting to climb off the bottom of their leagues. The mix of budgets, injuries, and form paints a challenging landscape, with Elche among a handful of teams struggling to secure a single win in the early stages of the campaign. The comparisons underline how thin the margins are between survival and relegation in top-flight football.
This overview emphasizes that even in strong football nations, the early weeks can define a club’s entire year. While Elche seeks to turn the tide, other teams across Europe battle to rewrite their narratives before the winter pause and the second half of the season tests their depth and resilience.
The league tables, moments of disappointment, and the stubborn reality of a long season’s start all contribute to a broader story about pressure, performance, and the tough road back from a slow start. Fans stay hopeful while analysts map out the routes back to a more favorable position and a healthier balance sheet for the clubs involved.
Spain: After 16 days, Elche is in the red light position with 4 points. Europe’s leagues keep adjusting, and Elche’s challenge to change the trend remains a clear test of character and strategy for the rest of the season.