In a cooling but fiercely contested season, Eldense has risen as the team most likely to secure direct promotion to the Second Division, a prize reserved for the regular-season winner. Led by Fernando Estévez, Eldense sits two points ahead of Castellón and Real Murcia as the club heads into a crucial Saturday clash at the Pepico Amat stadium in Elda at 17:00. With a committed, high-caliber squad, the club is intent on delivering another standout performance that could crown the winter period with a notable achievement.
Should Eldense defeat Real Murcia at Pepico Amat, the club could be named winter champion of Group 2 in the First RFEF, a symbolic title reserved for the team that finishes the first round at the top of the table. The result would reflect a strong run that began with a clear intent to compete for promotion and has carried through the winter recess into the second half of the campaign.
After the points gained at the Intercity stadium on the final day of the first phase, Eldense maintains its first-place standing. The year 2022 closed with momentum, and May’s promotion to the First RFEF gave way to a promising 2023, where direct promotion to the Second Division remained a tangible objective for the season ahead.
Winter champion status hinges on Eldense gaining at least a two-point advantage in their last first-round game against Real Murcia. In a top-two clash, a win by Eldense would secure the honorary title for the first round, underscoring the significance of this match in Elda as the campaign moves forward.
Intercity and Eldense are setting the tone for an intense regional rivalry, with a recent scoreline of 1-1 highlighting the parity between the two sides. The broader picture remains clear: momentum is a currency in this league, and both clubs know the implications of every point at stake in this stage of the season.
The rival who could start the second round in a leading position is Castellón. For that to unfold, Eldense and Murcia would need to settle for a draw against each other and see Castellón fall short against UD Logroñés in Castalia. If a Pepico Amat meeting occurs, the Alicante club would retain leadership only if Castellón does not win or wins by a narrow margin of one goal or less. The arithmetic of promotion remains delicate, with every goal and every point carrying weight in the final standings.
Despite the tight race, Eldense anticipates a large attendance this Saturday at 17:00 as supporters rally behind the team in a bid to push for a favorable result against Real Murcia. Ticket prices are set between 15 and 20 euros, with a concession of 5 euros available for children, encouraging a broad crowd to fill the stands and energize the team on the field.
The scene in Elda is charged with optimism. The Azulgrana squad understands the importance of the upcoming match and the potential to shift the league table in their favor with a three-point gain. On the other side, Murcia faces a real opportunity to seize leadership, making the encounter a pivotal moment in Group 2 of the First RFEF as the season progresses toward its midpoint.
Jorquera, first signing
Eldense continues to reinforce its squad with strategic additions. The club confirmed the arrival of young winger Joel Jorquera from Cádiz Mirandilla, a team competing in the Second RFEF, to bolster the roster. The 22-year-old, a Castelldefels native who developed through the youth ranks of Gavá and Europa before moving to L’Hospitalet in 2020, has accumulated 27 appearances, starting 17 of them. His move from L’Hospitalet to Cádiz Mirandilla has seen him feature in 44 matches over the past two seasons, logging 2,640 minutes and scoring four goals. Jorquera possesses pace and quality that should be immediately available to Estévez’s plan, bringing fresh energy to the squad as the field tightens around the title race.