Preview: Elche vs. Real Valladolid - prediction, team news, lineups

The home team will enter the contest off the back of a 1-0 win over Mallorca, while Real Valladolid recorded a 2-1 victory over Espanyol in their last game in Spain's top flight.

Match preview

Elche remain rooted to the bottom of the table, and it appears likely that they will be dropping into the Segunda Division for next season, but there have been signs of life in recent weeks.

Indeed, Pablo Machin's side have won two of their last five matches, including a 1-0 victory away to Mallorca last time out, with Lucas Boye netting the only goal of the contest in the latter stages.

The result moved Elche onto 12 points, but they are still 13 points from the safety of 17th position, meaning that a huge effort is required to stand a chance of completing the great escape.

Los Franjiverdes have finished 17th and 13th in their last two seasons in Spain's top flight, and they are already enjoying their best run at this level of football since the late 1970s.

Another win on Saturday would leave the supporters dreaming of remaining in the top flight, but Elche suffered a 2-1 defeat to Real Valladolid in the reverse contest earlier this season, while they have only picked up six points from their 12 home league matches this term.

Real Valladolid will also enter this match off the back of a morale-boosting result, having recorded a 2-1 victory over Espanyol last weekend, with Ivan Sanchez and Alvaro Aguado on the scoresheet.

The White and Violets are currently 14th in Spain's top flight on 27 points, but they sit just two points clear of the relegation zone, with a number of teams battling to stay out of the bottom three.

There are only three points between 18th-placed Almeria and Celta Vigo in 12th, and it does appear that it will be a fascinating conclusion to the season when it comes to the relegation places.

Pacheta's side have the fourth-worst away record in La Liga this season, only picking up seven points from their 12 matches, which will not fill the supporters with too much confidence ahead of this game.

Four of the last five La Liga matches between these two sides have finished level, meanwhile, including their last meeting at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero in April 2021.

Elche La Liga form:

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W

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Real Valladolid La Liga form:

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Team News

Elche will again be missing Pape Cheikh through suspension this weekend, while Pere Milla, Alex Collado, John Donald and Jony Alamo remain on the sidelines through injury.

However, the league's basement side will be boosted by the return of Enzo Roco and Lisandro Magallan following bans, and the former is expected to come into the back four.

Boye scored the winner against Mallorca last time out, and the Argentine is expected to be partnered in the final third of the field by Randy Nteka.

Real Valladolid, meanwhile, will again be missing Jordi Masip, Kenedy and Anuar Tuhami through injury.

However, the visitors will be boosted by the return of Kike Perez and Selim Amallah from suspension, with the pair missing against Espanyol last time out.

There are no fresh injury concerns from the clash with Espanyol last time out, and it is likely to be close to the same XI for this match, although Aguado could replace Roque Mesa in central midfield.

Elche possible starting lineup:

Badia; Palacios, Roco, Bigas; Carmona, Fidel, Mascarell, Gumbau, Clerc; Nteka, Boye

Real Valladolid possible starting lineup:

Asenjo; Fresneda, Fernandez, El Yamiq, Escudero; Sanchez, Hongla, Aguado; Plata, Marin, Plano

We say: Elche 1-1 Real Valladolid

Elche were excellent against Mallorca last time out and will therefore enter this match full of confidence. Real Valladolid were also impressive against Espanyol, though, and we are finding it difficult to separate the two sides here, ultimately backing a low-scoring draw.

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