Preview: Elche vs. Granada - prediction, team news, lineups

Granada 's search for their first La Liga victory since the end of October will continue on Sunday night when they head to Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero to take on Elche.

The visitors are currently on a five-game winless run in the league but still occupy seventh position in the table, while Elche currently sit 10th, having made an impressive start to the 2020-21 campaign.

Match preview

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Elche have won three, drawn five and lost two of their 10 league matches this season, collecting 14 points to occupy 10th position, just four points off fifth-placed Cadiz with two games in hand.

Only Villarreal, Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid have lost fewer La Liga games than Elche this term, while they have conceded just 10 times, which is among the best defensive records in the division.

Los Franjiverdes advanced through last season's Segunda Division playoffs to secure a return to this level, and they were actually a third-tier side as recently as 2018.

Consolidating at this level will be Elche's main goal this season, but the early indications are that they could potentially push for a mid-table finish.

Jorge Almiron 's side will bring a four-game unbeaten run into this weekend's contest although each of those four matches have finished level, and they are without a victory in La Liga since October 23.

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Granada, meanwhile, will enter the match off the back of a goalless draw with PAOK in the Europa League on Thursday night; Diego Martinez 's side have booked their spot in the knockout round of the competition and will now be looking to address their stuttering league form.

A return of 15 points from 11 matches has left El Grana in seventh position in the table, five points behind fourth-placed Real Madrid and three points off fifth-placed Cadiz.

Martinez's team have not been victorious in the league since October 25, though, picking up just two points from their last five La Liga fixtures, including a 3-3 home draw with Huesca last weekend.

Granada will be determined to return to winning ways on Sunday evening, and they recorded a 2-1 victory over Elche when the two teams last met in January 2019. The pair have not locked horns in La Liga since January 2015, although Granada also won that particular contest 1-0.

Elche La Liga form: WLDDDD

Granada La Liga form: WDLLLD

Granada form (all competitions): LWLLDD

Team News

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Elche are again expected to be without the services of Guido Carrillo through injury, but Lucas Boye is available following a suspension and should return to the starting XI.

Pere Milla, Tete Morente and Josan Fernandez are all likely to keep their spots in attacking positions, meaning that Raul Guti could be the player to drop out to allow Boye to return.

Josema Sanchez and Antonio Barragan should feature in the full-back positions, while Ivan Marcone is expected to retain his position in the middle of the park.

Granada will be without the services of Neyder Lozano, Jesus Vallejo and Angel Montoro through injury, while German Sanchez is suspended for the visitors.

Ramon Azeez, Victor Diaz and Fede Vico are also doubts, but Martinez's side did not pick up any fresh issues in the goalless draw with PAOK on Thursday night.

Carlos Neva, Luis Suarez, Maxime Gonalons, Darwin Machis, Roberto Soldado and Yangel Herrera should all return to the starting XI following the Europa League clash, although there is expected to be another start at the back for on-loan Atletico Madrid defender Nehuen Perez.

Elche possible starting lineup:

Badia; Barragan, Gonzalez, Verdu, Josema; Fidel, Marcone, Milla; Morente, Boye, Josan

Granada possible starting lineup:

Silva; Foulquier, Duarte, Perez, Neva; Herrera, Milla, Gonalons; Suarez, Soldado, Machis

We say: Elche 1-1 Granada

Granada will view this match as an ideal opportunity to return to winning ways, but Elche's form this season must be respected. The hosts have shared the points in half of their 10 league matches this term, and we are tipping a low-scoring draw between the two teams here.

Top betting tip

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