Leader against bottom in Martínez Valero

Regaining the lead with victory in the classic, Real Madrid faces the stretch of the season until the break for the World Cup with the need to refresh the team.

Thomas Osborne
Thomas Osborne
19 October 2022 Wednesday 02:34
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Leader against bottom in Martínez Valero

Regaining the lead with victory in the classic, Real Madrid faces the stretch of the season until the break for the World Cup with the need to refresh the team. The whites visit the Martínez Valero today Wednesday (9pm) to face off against Elche, the bottom team and the only First team that has yet to win a game and has already changed coaches. Madrid seems too rival. Of the 12 games played so far, they have won ten and drawn two, against Osasuna and Shakhtar.

The team from Elche dismissed Francisco on October 6, when Elche added one point out of a possible 21. With the new occupant of the bench, the Argentine Jorge Almirón, the dynamics have improved and the franjiverdes have drawn the last two games: against Mallorca at home (1-1) and at Mestalla against Valencia (2-2), a match in which they were seriously harmed by the arbitration.

Because of what happened last season, Real Madrid knows that it cannot be trusted. Elche is a tactically very organized team, one of those who close very well and the whites have a hard time hurting them. In the last campaign they met three times. At the Bernabeu there was a tie (2-2). At the Martínez Valero, Madrid won the League (1-2) and repeated victory in the Cup, winning this time in extra time (1-2) with a comeback included. At the end of 90 minutes it had arrived with 0-0.

Ancelotti confirmed yesterday at a press conference that Courtois is still not available, so it will be a new opportunity for the Ukrainian Lunin, who will play his sixth consecutive game. Except in Getafe, in all of them he has conceded a goal. To the loss of the Belgian, Madrid adds another two: that of Dani Ceballos, in the final stretch of his recovery, and that of Mariano, off the list due to physical discomfort that Madrid has not specified.

Although Ancelotti has not given any clues about the line-up, it is certain that there will be several changes with respect to the team that won the classic against Barcelona. Players like Lucas Vázquez, Nacho, Camavinga and Rodrygo will probably return to the eleven. Hazard could also have minutes but the last time he started, his performance was very poor. Something similar can be said of Asensio, who has not quite found the minutes he wants.

At Elche Almirón he recovers midfielder Gerard Gumbau, goes down to Mestalla to attend the birth of his daughters, and Lucas Boyé, who served a one-match ban. The winger Fidel Chaves, in the final stretch of the recovery process from a muscle injury, is doubtful, while the Argentine central defender Fede Fernández is out due to some discomfort. Bigas is also already recovered from the head injury he suffered during the match against Valencia and will be at the coach's disposal.

In his press conference yesterday, Friday, Almirón praised his rival, but he believes his team is in a good moment: "Madrid is one of the best teams in the world and is also in one of the best moments in its history. However, We coaches plan matches to try to win, that's what we dream of. The stands give you a plus. We'll draw strength. The important thing is to be united, very attentive and focused. It's necessary to be strong as a team. We always try to win and we'll try to take advantage the emotional part.