Goliath will welcome David next Wednesday at 9:00 PM. The match marks the closing day of La Liga Santander play, delayed due to Real Madrid advancing to the Club World Cup final. Madrid fans hope their leader Barça remains at the top, and they anticipate moving within 11 points of Villarreal if they secure a win against the same team.
Elche is stepping into a critical league moment often described as a new final in the Apertura of the season. The squad led by Machín has one clear path: win at least half of their remaining fixtures. They will face every First Division opponent once more, with the exception of Villarreal, who broke through with a home victory on Saturday. Elche travels to the next game with renewed energy, even though several players are sidelined and some are carrying doubts about their fitness.
Gumbau on the sidelines due to muscle overload
VL Deltel
Goliath and David
Real Madrid and Elche carry the symbolic contrast of Goliath against David. Their targets lie far apart, whether measured by current points or salary caps, yet both sides share a pressing need for victory. Historically, the Real Madrid versus Elche fixture has produced a decisive advantage for the Whites, with 19 wins and only four draws in 23 meetings.
Yet not everything is bleak for Elche. Last season, January brought a notable rally from the team. Managed then by Francisco, the squad steadied itself and earned a 2-2 draw after a late equalizer by Militao stretched the match to stoppage time. The clash ended with a dramatic late twist that underscored Elche’s resilience.
We almost won
Diego González recalled the memorable near-miss yesterday. He spoke of the potential to win at this venue and the collective desire to play with ambition and enjoyment. Elche consistently led the scoreboard in that encounter, while Real Madrid’s Modric closed the gap with goals from Boyé in the 42nd minute and Pere Milla in the 76th, leaving the score at 2-2 in the 82nd minute.
A photo accompanies this moment, capturing Diego González in a pre-match press conference ahead of the Real Madrid – Elche CF clash.
Other data
There are several striking statistics. Real Madrid has tallied 85 goals, while Elche has compiled 22 league goals to date. On matchday ten, Real Madrid posted a 3–0 win at Martínez Valero. Elche has produced memorable scoring feats at the Bernabéu, including a 6–1 victory in the 1984/85 season and an 8–0 result in 1960/1961. Still, there remains a stubborn thread of hope for Elche.
Elche’s last draw at Madrid came after a long drought without a goal at the venue, a record echoed in a 1975 2–2 result featuring Aníbal Montero and Ricardo González. In that prior season, Marcel Domingo’s Elche overcame a 2–0 deficit to claim a favorable result, signaling the team’s enduring spirit.
A recent moment in the Elche versus Real Madrid series shows a crowd rallying with the refrain Yes we can as the team prepares for the next clash. The fans’ enthusiasm underscores the belief that miracles are possible with persistent effort and unity.
When data is consulted, the sense remains that Elche must continue collecting points and hope for a breakthrough in the upcoming appointment. Five days separate the team from kickoff, and supporters anticipate a result that could lift spirits in a dramatic, rallying fashion.