Elche CF keeps gearing up for a decisive clash this Saturday at 18:30, facing Getafe at the Colosseum Alfonso Perez. The meeting pits Elche under coach Sebastián Beccacece against Getafe led by José Bordalás, with both sides eager to sharpen their form ahead of upcoming fixtures.
Elche’s medical team confirmed that the green line of players will continue monitoring their recovery plans. Despite efforts, Mascarell and Carmona remain unavailable as they work outside the squad, with no quick return on the horizon. The plan is to keep testing defensive roles for the Canary and midfield duties for Carmona as they assess options for the future fixtures.
Two weeks prior, the Argentine coach noted progress and signaled the start of fieldwork, though neither player is yet cleared to rejoin the group. The club’s surgical precision in rehabilitation means Mascarell and Carmona will miss the next two matches, including Saturday’s trip to Getafe and the midweek duel at Martínez Valero versus Sevilla, as sources close to Elche indicate.
The Canary midfielder remains closest to a comeback, potentially arriving on the second-to-last matchday when the team visits the city. On Sunday, May 28 at 19:00, Elche faces Athletic Club de Bilbao at San Mamés, a fixture that could frame the team’s late-season push.
Mascarell suffered a tendon injury late in the April 26 clash with Celta in Vigo. The medical assessment described a strain in the front of his left quadriceps, keeping him out for over three weeks and causing him to miss three consecutive games against Rayo Vallecano, Almería, and Atlético de Madrid. The club’s medical reports emphasize a cautious return to action to prevent relapse.
On the training ground, Mascarell is seen in rehabilitation drills to regain full match fitness. He is pictured taking part in exercises designed to rebuild strength and agility as the team plots a careful return to competitive play, with the Díez Iborra complex continuing to host sessions that target recovery milestones. The emphasis remains on a measured return rather than rushing the process, ensuring the player enters the field in peak condition.
José Ángel Carmona’s situation has evolved differently. The young winger he joined on loan from Sevilla endured a serious right hamstring tear that interrupted his season. While there were early concerns about a season-ending injury, his recovery progressed, and he remains a candidate to feature again if the medical staff clears him safely. A potential appearance looms for the May 28 game or perhaps the final round if his training progresses favorably, but precautions are in place to prevent any relapse. The club will heed the advice of the medical team before making a final call on his availability for the last games of the campaign.
Carmona has spent an extended period in the infirmary, missing several matches, and the club continues to emphasize a strong, supportive approach to his return. Elche’s coaching staff believes his long-term contribution could be pivotal, especially in roles requiring defensive solidity alongside Beccacece and a potential midfield partnership with Beccacece’s preferred lineup. Sevilla’s loan agreement for Carmona includes a six-million-euro option to purchase, a figure viewed as high given the team’s current standing in the Second Division. If Carmona wishes to remain with Elche in the second tier, discussions are expected to centre on a possible reduction of the transfer option in line with market conditions and his projected growth as a young player with a bright future.
For now, most of the squad remains available. Mascarell and Carmona are expected to be the only absentees for Saturday’s match against Getafe, assuming no late issues arise during the week. Pedro Bigas and Helibelton Palacios have recently returned to training after weeks of injuries, boosting the squad’s depth for a critical stretch of the season. Beccacece continues to prioritise protecting the starting eleven, a tactic that yielded a solid result in the previous clash against Atlético Madrid.
In the potential lineup, Pere Milla could replace Randy Ntkea in attack, following a strong performance that gave him confidence to stay in the starting lineup. The rest of the starting unit remains firmly in Beccacece’s eyes, including Edgar Badía in goal and the familiar defensive and midfield choices that have become the team’s backbone. The coach’s decisions reflect a balance between preserving established contributors and introducing fresh energy where appropriate, aiming to sustain Elche’s competitiveness through the closing stages of the campaign.
The squad’s morale remains high as training continues, with the focus on fitness, tactical cohesion, and maintaining a battling spirit. The coaching staff’s intent is clear: maximize every available resource, minimize risk, and push toward a strong finish that could signal a promising outlook for the following season.
Bigas and Palacios intensified their return to action as part of the squad’s broader recovery wave. Their presence enhances the depth at both full-back positions and in the defensive line, ensuring rotation options for Beccacece to manage fixtures without compromising performance. The team’s preparation highlights a clear message: every available player contributes to Elche’s collective goal of building momentum in a challenging league and securing positive results in the immediate fixtures ahead, including Saturday’s important league test against Getafe.
Bigas’s and Palacios’s return is a reminder of the club’s resilience and patient, steady progress. The defensive line’s cohesion has improved, and the coaching staff continues to evaluate tactical variants that could unlock opportunities against upcoming opponents. The overarching aim remains simple: translate training-ground improvements into on-pitch success while safeguarding players from unnecessary risk during this crucial phase of the season.
Bigas and Helibelton Palacios attended Elche’s training sessions
The focus at Beccacece’s session emphasized protecting the starting eleven, a strategy that yielded strong results in the recent clash with Atlético Madrid. A possible change in attack could involve Pere Milla stepping into Randy Ntkea’s established partnership, while the French forward delivered his best game since arriving at the Franjiverde outfit, reinforcing his role in the frontline and supporting the team’s offensive balance.
The core group that featured against the mats included Edgar Badía, Helibelton Palacios, Bigas, Clerc, Lautaro, John, Gumbau, Fidel, Tete Morente, and Lucas Boyé. These players remain untouchables in the eyes of the Argentine coach, underscoring the trust in their contributions and the role they play in shaping Elche’s tactical approach for the season’s remainder. The squad’s continuity reflects the coaching staff’s preference for stability while seeking opportunistic changes to keep opponents guessing about Elche’s actual configuration.