In a league as tight as League Two, home form is essential to reach the season’s aims. The club will once again rely on that advantage, aiming to collect maximum points at Nuevo Pepico Amat. The fortress-like arena has become a focal point where visitors often drop points, mirroring last season’s pattern.
That home strength was a cornerstone of last year’s promotion push. Opponents arrived in Elda knowing that beating the team would be a monumental task. Eldense had gone unbeaten for most of the campaign, adding depth to their run with a Copa del Rey clash against Athletic Club, and a league campaign that featured 12 wins, 7 draws, 32 goals scored, and 43 points from 69 available as the season progressed.
Eldense’s confident leadership at Nuevo Pepico Amat
Pedro Rojas
This solidity at home helped the team push through the promotion play-offs, buoyed by the support of a passionate fanbase that never stopped believing. That resilience persisted into autumn before a stern setback against Real Oviedo, a 1-3 defeat that hinted at a rough patch. After that stumble, the team regrouped, and by April of the following year the form had shifted back in their favor, helped by a run that saw results improve after a stretch that included challenging fixtures against clubs like Águilas.
“There are two home matches coming up, and Nuevo Pepico Amat should be a thrill for the players and a pleasure to enter the competition,” the coach commented after a draw with Ferrol Racing. The Granada contender urged fans to keep supporting the squad with the same energy, recognizing how genuine the connection to the home venue can be during match days.
Positive competitors
In the next fortnight, Deportivo will host two challenging guests who have yet to win away from home: Amorebieta and Burgos. Both clubs are targeting the same objective as Eldense, and neither has mastered away wins this season — Amorebieta has managed only draws on the road, while Burgos have seen all their away fixtures end in defeats.
Florin Andone’s celebrations at Nuevo Pepico Amat this season have become a familiar sight, underscoring the team’s ability to convert at home. The atmosphere surrounding game days emphasizes a symbol of confidence for the squad and its supporters.
Looking ahead, the upcoming match against the Biscayan side is viewed as a pivotal clash, a seven-point swing since a win would award three points and deny the opponent, while securing a direct result in the head-to-head. The Blues sit near the lower end of the table, in the relegation zone, and trail Eldense by a few points. It is a meeting between two clubs that ascended from the same lower tier last season, with Amorebieta’s home win lifting them in the standings and earning a direct ticket to the second division.
Precedents
Last season, a visit to Eldense ended in a 1-1 draw on a chilly December afternoon, with Mario Soberón leveling late on. At that time, Eldense was struggling for form, while Amorebieta began climbing the table after a slower start, finding footing as the campaign progressed.
In another note, Elche, Eldense, Hércules, and Orihuela already know their Copa del Rey schedules. Eldense will host Amorebieta, Burgos, and Mirandés in the coming weeks, with the latter two set to visit Andorra. The opponents are familiar faces from their league, and Eldense will need to give their all to advance beyond the opening round of the qualifiers.
Next weekend, the crowd’s role is expected to shift once again. Even if kick-off times are subject to change, the Barca faithful know what the team can achieve on their home ground and are ready to push for a strong response from the stands.