Match Pack: Elche CF vs Athletic Club (LaLiga MD5)
Match Pack: Elche CF vs Athletic Club (LaLiga MD5)
After their first defeat of the season, Los Leones will be looking to make amends and get back to winning ways in Elche
Athletic Club go into their LaLiga Matchday 5 fixture against Elche CF determined to get back on track after suffering a first loss of the campaign against RCD Espanyol last week.
It won't be an easy game, as Elche CF are in serious need of points. At the moment, they are winless and stuck in the relegation zone along with Getafe CF and Cádiz CF.
Ernesto Valverde's side will be hoping to move closer to the top of the table by picking up three points at the Estadio Martínez Valero, always a tricky away match.
Match Info
Elche CF vs Athletic Club (Matchday 5)
Martínez Valero (Elche)
LaLiga Santander 22/23
Sunday September 11, 16:15 CEST
How to Watch
Use our global TV guide to make sure you don’t miss the match, no matter where you are in the world!
Team News
Ernesto Valverde has called up 22 players for the clash. Left-backs Mikel Balenziaga and Yuri Berchiche remain on the physio's bench. Yeray Alvarez and Ander Herrera join the list of absentees for tomorrow's game.
Valverde's comments
Read more from the Gaffer's press conference here.
The Opponents
Head coach: Francisco Javier Rodríguez Vílchez
A striker in his playing days, Francisco spent most of his professional career at hometown club UD Almeria. After hanging up his boots, he took his first steps into management with the same club. Francisco spent a few seasons cutting his teeth in Almería's academy before taking over the top job in 2013/14. Over the last decade, he has been in the hot seat at a wide variety of LaLiga clubs, including: UCAM Murcia, Lugo, Córdoba, Huesca and Girona.
He was appointed Elche head coach in November 2021, finding the side in 18th place and leading them to an eventual 13th thanks to a good run of form after Christmas.
New signings:
In addition to making forward Ezequiel Ponce's loan from Spartak Moscow permanent, Elche have brought in eight new faces, three of which are loans and the other five transfers.
Transfers: Nicolás Fernández Mercau (full-back, from San Lorenzo), Roger Martí (forward, from UD Levante), Lautaro Blanco (full-back, from Rosario Central), Carlos Clerc (full-back, from UD Levante), Federico Fernández (centre-back, from Newcastle).
Loans: Pol Lirola (full-back, from Olympique Marseille), Álex Collado (midfielder, from FC Barcelona), Domingos Quina (midfielder, from Watford).
Recent form:
Four fixtures into the campaign, Elche are yet to pick up a win. Added to that, they've only managed to score one goal so far this season.
Previous Meetings
Since their first LaLiga clash in the 1959/60 season, Elche CF and Athletic Club have played a total of 46 matches in the top flight, with the Lions winning 20, drawing 15 and losing 11.
As for matches played at the Estadio Martínez Valero, the figures are not entirely positive for Los Rojiblancos. Of the 23 visits to Elche CF's ground, Athletic have managed four wins in addition to nine draws and 10 defeats.
With regard to the last five encounters in Elche, Athletic were only able to beat Elche CF in the 2014/15 season. In 2013/14 and 2021/22, Los Leones earned draws, while the home side emerged victorious in 1988/89 and 2020/21.
Athletic's last victory at the Martínez Valero saw the Lions overturn a two-goal deficit to win 2-3 in 2014/15. Ager Aketxe got the comeback rolling in the 79th minute, Mikel San José got the leveller with four minutes to go, and Iñaki Williams, with his first senior goal as a Lion, ensured Los Rojiblancos took all three points in dramatic fashion with a 92nd-minute winner.