Eldense faces Racing Santander in a pivotal LaLiga SmartBank clash
The upcoming Saturday match sees Eldense aiming to snap a run where they earned only two points from the last available twelve, seeking a return to winning ways. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on Movistar Plus LaLiga Hypermotion. Racing Santander travels to the encounter with a consistent run, having earned eight points from their most recent fixtures, without a defeat in that span.
Both Eldense and their coach Estrada have seen their momentum stall, especially since the side registered a home win on November 12 against Andorra. The draw last week offered a glimmer of change as they faced a team from the top tier ahead of the clash with the leader and a continuing challenge to improve results.
⚽️ The message from midfielders was clear, with a strong call to support from the community
Get involved by donating non-perishable food
Cooperation with solidarity campaigns
All information cited from the club’s official communications
— Eldense SAD —
This stretch without a win narrowed the gap to the relegation places. During the week, coach Fernando Estévez and players such as Joel Jorquera and Arnau Ortiz emphasized finishing the first round and the 2023 season in the Second Division with the remaining two matches to approach Christmas on a solid note.
Estévez reflected on attendance, noting a jump from about 900 spectators to more than 4,000 this season. He underscored the achievements he has guided at Club Deportivo Eldense, who will bid farewell to the year with a home match against Racing de Santander, one of LaLiga’s historic clubs, at 2 p.m. on the day of the game.
He warned that Racing will be a tough rival with high-quality individual players, but he stressed that Eldense has matched stronger opponents in recent home performances. The team has shown resilience and solidity, both in defensive stability and in overall numbers since their last home victory.
The plan is to maintain a strong block, with an adaptive approach as needed. The side recognizes that many teams in the second division deploy multiple goalkeepers and that Eldense may rotate in this position as required to stay competitive. This strategy will be part of the tactical discussion as Vallejo and Zubiaurre helped organize the squad, and Aceves spoke about the upcoming challenge.
Riding a narrow cushion above the relegation zone, Eldense holds a five-point lead that they hope to extend or at least carry into the year’s end with a positive result. Racing Santander, preparing for the last game of the first half of the season, faces Eldense at Pepico Amat in Elda and acknowledges the difficulty of winning on this stage while maintaining a competitive edge against a determined opponent.
José Alberto López, the Racing coach, spoke before the trip to Alicante, highlighting that Eldense has kept a stable core from last season and has delivered solid numbers at the start of the campaign. He described Eldense as a vertical, hard-nosed team that is capable of making life difficult for opponents, forecasting a tough but winnable match if his side can adapt to the style they will encounter.
In the Cantabrian camp, the lineup for the match was discussed, with Low Grenier and Andrés Martín joining young Mario, who had dealt with discomfort earlier in the week. The question remains whether Saul will reclaim the left-wing slot, and whether players like German, Little Lake, or Paul Moreno will feature in the starting eleven alongside Sangalli.