Elche managed only 3 wins and 7 draws across 33 matches, a signal that the squad found goals in just about 30 percent of its games, while in 23 fixtures the locker room stayed empty after full time. The figures stand out, especially in the areas where players and coaches focus their efforts on improving results.
The 7 deadly sins of Elche’s relegation
JA Galvanized
The team showed limited effectiveness in the attacking third. According to LaLiga statistics, Elche netted just 25 goals, averaging 0.76 per game. This is a drop from the prior season when the squad averaged 1.05 goals per match. Beccacece’s side finished the league with 40 goals in total, underscoring the need to boost scoring by about 15 goals to reach that benchmark in five games.
Where was the key? The short answer is this: the problem was more about quantity than quality. Franjiverdes recorded 249 shots, one more than in the previous year. They hit the target 108 times, five games fewer than in 2021-2022.
That means there were only 10 successful shots on goal this season, down from 16 last year. Finishing rate was a major bottleneck. Opponents blocked 87 attempts; this season that figure rose to 90, illustrating a recurring barrier in breaking down defenses.
Corner
Elche’s improved finishing in open play is mirrored in the number of corners taken. They produced 176 set pieces, up from 155 the year before.
Possession was distributed between Escribá and Francisco, averaging 48 percent, with a drop to 43 percent in the current stretch. The team managed only 18 goal assists, compared with 29 in 2021-2022.
Defensive metrics also reflect a dip. The team had 290 dribbles so far this season, down from 339 in the previous year, signaling fewer direct penetrations and creative runs in the final third.
in defense
Defense emerged as the season’s most decisive factor in Elche’s struggles. A five- or four-man backline failed to blunt opponents enough, contributing to a conceded tally of 64 goals, an average of 1.94 per match. This contrasts sharply with 2021-2022, when the figure stood at 52 and the mean was 1.37 per game.
Edgar Badia, a goalkeeper who faced relentless pressure, emerged as a standout through sheer volume of action. He delivered a high number of saves, recording the most saves (120) in LaLiga that season. Elche attempted 489 shots, with 192 on target, 139 from within the home area, and 53 from outside. Though last year’s tally was higher at 522 shots, only 180 found the back of the net and eight fewer shots were directed from inside the box. The club did not concede more penalties than last year, with ten penalties awarded in both campaigns.
Kicks, fouls…
The physical battle in the center of the park was also less effective. Elche logged 617 gaps, compared with 751 last season, and committed 283 fouls while completing 238 successful passes. There were 1,916 recoveries, down from 2,274 in the prior year.
The overall package depicted a team that was less powerful, less clinical, and less aggressive in most facets. It even marked a year of continuity in some struggles, with a record-long stretch of losses during their centennial season, a period that shifted focus away from mere relegation fears toward broader ambitions for the club.