The recent setback against Betis was a hard blow for Elche, who faced Mallorca on the island on the 24th LaLiga Santander matchday at Son Moix. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 18:30 local time this afternoon. Coach Machín is weighing whether Diego González can anchor the defense, especially after suspensions for Enzo Roco and Lisandro Magallán kept them out on the previous round. Both players saw red cards in the last game. Pape Cheikh also faced a potential four-day ban for refereeing misconduct, according to match records.
Mallorca – Elche: TV coverage and how to watch
VL Deltel
Two natural center-backs at stake
With González unavailable, Elche’s Franjiverde coach has only two dependable central defenders: Pedro Bigas and Gonzalo Verdú. The former has seen limited action recently, while Verdú continues to cope with knee discomfort. The prevailing expectation is that they will line up as the central pair, flanked by Helibelton Palacios, a winger converted by the Soriano setup into a right-sided defender.
Beyond the contingency with Diego González, Elche also has other fitness concerns. Pape Cheikh faced an issue this week despite sanctions, described as a developing viral process that is being monitored by the coaching staff. Fidel showed some progress in training, while Randy Nteka returned to action, though he remains slightly below peak condition. Lucas Boyé is managing a minor issue that makes training sessions feel less than fully comfortable, but he is continuing to play through it. These are small but notable details that could influence selection and rhythm.
Significant challenges ahead
Elche faces a broad set of hurdles, with salvation feeling distant at 15 points and the mood around the team understandably fragile after the setback against Betis. Mallorca brings in Muriqi, one of the top forward threats, while Roco and Magallán remain unavailable. Maintaining a three-center-back system, the coach admitted that the recent losses were hard to absorb, but he stressed belief in every player’s ability to adapt and perform. The squad is viewed as capable of competing in every league fixture, and the goal remains to fight for points as if each match were a final. The broader aim is to improve the standing, even if some units face doubt in the process.
Possible XI
If Machín sticks to his preferred approach with minimal changes, the likely lineup features Verdú, Bigas, and Palacios in the back three. Carmona would occupy the right wing, with Clerc or Lautaro on the left. In midfield, Gumbau, Fidel, and Mascarell would operate, with Boyé and Ponce in attack. The bench would include Lautaro, Josan, Morente, Diego González, Lirola, Guti, Nico, Nteka, and the goalkeepers Áxel Werner and Jesús López. In total, only 21 players are named for consideration.
On Mallorca’s side, Aguirre will have Copete available after his illness, while Daniel Luna is listed as unavailable.