ElcheElchevs.LeedsLeeds United

The two sides have never met in a competitive fixture before.

Match preview

After 14 games in La Liga this season, Elche remain winless, as they lie eight points adrift of safety ahead of facing Atletico Madrid in their first match after the World Cup on December 29.

Understandably after such a disastrous start to the campaign, the club have moved to appoint a new manager, with former Sevilla boss Pablo Machin taking the reigns at Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero.

His first competitive match in charge will be against Segunda Division outfit CD Guadalajara in the second round of the Copa del Rey, which could provide a welcome distraction for his players given their precarious position in La Liga.

However, having beaten West Bromwich Albion 1-0 on Friday, Machin will be firmly focused on continuing to form an effective blueprint for greater success when another English side arrives in town on Thursday, ahead of a mountainous task in front of them in terms of surviving relegation.

Leeds, meanwhile, recovered some form prior to the Premier League season being paused, with Jesse Marsch relieving a decent portion of the mounting pressure on his job safety by guiding his side to two wins from their last three matches.

As such, the Lilywhites avoided heading into the break for the World Cup inside the relegation zone, but they can not afford to be complacent given that only two points separates themselves and Nottingham Forest either side of the dotted lines in the table.

Marsch clearly feels that his players require some match practice ahead of facing champions Manchester City at Elland Road on December 28, with Elche, Real Sociedad and Monaco all penciled in for friendlies between now and then.

With the city of Leeds facing freezing temperatures at certain points throughout Thursday, manager and players alike will almost certainly appreciate the timing of their trip to the warmer Valencian Community, while equally understanding the importance of the task in front of them.

Elche form (all competitions):

D

L

D

L

L

L

Leeds United Club Friendlies 1 form:

W

W

L

D

W

Leeds United form (all competitions):

L

L

W

W

L

L

Team News

Elche may be without Javier Pastore, Fidel and Jony Alamo due to injury on Thursday, with Machin unlikely to take risks over any doubtful players given that it is only a friendly.

However, the La Liga strugglers have had no players involved at the ongoing World Cup, so the 47-year-old should have the majority of his squad to select from as he looks to make an immediate impact from the managerial dugout.

Leeds, meanwhile, will allow Tyler Adams, Brenden Aaronson and Rasmus Kristensen to rest after their involvements with USA and Denmark - who have both been knocked out of the World Cup - in Qatar.

Patrick Bamford, Junior Firpo, Mateusz Klich, Jack Harrison, Luis Sinisterra, Stuart Dallas and Adam Forshaw are all injury doubts, while Illan Meslier and Kristoffer Klaesson have been struck by a virus in recent times, potentially leaving Marsch extremely short of options.

Elche possible starting lineup:

Badia; Lirola, Roco, Gonzalez, Clerc; Mascarell, Guti; Fernandez, Collado, Milla; Boye

Leeds United possible starting lineup:

Robles; Ayling, Koch, Cooper, Struijk; Roca, Greenwood; Summerville, Rodrigo, Gnonto; Gelhardt

We say: Elche 1-2 Leeds United

Although Leeds appear to be without several options due to the World Cup, injury and illness, we expect Marsch's side to edge to victory.

Elche have had a disastrous domestic campaign so far, with Machin desperate to turn things around quickly.

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