With a tight focus on their Copa del Rey campaign, Elche travels to Ceuta for a round of 16 clash that kicks off tonight, roughly 21 hours after discussions about the upcoming league fixture against Celta intensified in the buildup.
Elche, often referred to as the Franjiverdes, enters as a clear favorite against a Ceuta side sitting bottom of Primera RFEF Group I. In the league this season, Ceuta has claimed just seven points from 17 matches, earning two wins and one draw so far.
Ceuta has impressed early in the knockout rounds, eliminating Utrera and Ibiza to reach this stage of the cup, repeating the run that saw them through the previous rounds in the competition against higher-ranked sides.
Elche travels to Ceuta via Morocco
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The Elche objective is to advance in the Cup and reach the last 16. Given the fragile moment the club is in, a victory would lift morale and bolster confidence, especially if league results remain challenging.
Machín remains cognizant that the main clash this week is the Friday meeting with Celta. The Soriano-led squad faces limitations in squad depth, with only 19 first-team players available for the Ceuta trip and the upcoming league game against the Galicians.
The injury list continues to hit Elche hard. The latest casualty is Alex Collado, who joined the club on loan from Barcelona and did not train with the squad yesterday due to adductor issues. He is unlikely to feature tonight or in Friday’s league match against Celta.
Collado adds to a growing list of Elche injuries
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Pol Lirola is close to full match fitness, but the coaching staff chose not to risk him, keeping him at training with the aim of being ready for the Galicians test. In addition to these two absences, the regular squad disruptions persist: Josan Fernández will be out until the end of January, John Chetauya is in rehabilitation for a fibula issue and will not return before February, while Nico Fernández Mercau wears a splint for a broken wrist.
The coaching staff has again called on locally sourced players to cover gaps: Carles Marco could start, alongside Manu Cocca and Alejandro Alfaro, as potential starters.
Elche is viewed as the favorite to reach the draw and keep the cup bid alive. The good news is the return to fitness of Lautaro Blanco, who has been training with the team and had his registration processed as the transfer window opened.
The coach is likely to rest several key players for tonight in Ceuta ahead of the Friday duel with Celta. Edgar Badía, Helibelton Palacios, Carlos Clerc, Pedro Bigas, Omar Mascarell, Raúl Guti, Pere Milla, Roger Martí and Lucas Boyé are expected to start from the bench, if selected at all, as a precaution against risk.
Machín on squad management
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Gonzalo Verdú and Domingos Quina, who were dismissed in the last league match against Atlético Madrid, will be unavailable for the Ceuta game as a result of suspension, limiting defensive and midfield options against the Ceuta lineup.
Áxel Werner has several choices to start and help avoid exposing Badía, with a plan to field a balanced back line and midfield. The proposed starting XI for Ceuta tonight features Werner in goal, with Marco on the right flank, Enzo Rooco, Gonzalo Verdú and Diego González in central positions, Lautaro Blanco on the left, and a midfield trio of Gerard Gumbau, Domingos Quina, and Tete Morente. Up front, Fidel and Ezequiel Ponce lead the attack, with potential movement from Quina and Fidel as the game evolves.
There are two academy graduates within Ceuta’s ranks who know the Elche system well: goalkeeper Leandro Montagud and winger Liberto Beltrán. Both were part of Elche’s youth setup and have trained with the first team on occasions, making their debuts with the senior squad elsewhere.
The atmosphere tonight is expected to be electric, though Ceuta, a North African town, would relish facing a higher-ranked opponent. The last meeting produced a solid crowd of around 4,000, and a full Alfonso Morube stadium is anticipated this time as well. Elche cannot afford another setback in knockout competition, and players must justify their positions while maintaining momentum in the league as the season progresses.
POSSIBLE ALIGNMENTS:
Ceuta: Leandro Montagud, Macias, Alaín, Juan Gutierrez, Robin, Liberto Beltrán, Alberto Reina, Jota, Niño González, Moyano and Rodri.
Elche: Áxel Werner, Carles Marco, Enzo Roco, Gonzalo Verdú, Diego González, Lautaro Blanco, Gerard Gumbau, Domingos Quina, Tete Morente, Fidel and Ezequiel Ponce.
STADIUM: Alfonso Morube in Ceuta
TELEVISION: Movistar+
TIME: 21:00
JUDGE: Figueroa Vazquez (Andalusia)
Note: This report reflects the club’s status as of today and provides an overview of the match context, squad considerations, and tactical possibilities for both teams. (Source: club briefings and press materials cited for context.)