Alaves vs Elche predictions and match preview for Sunday’s LaLiga clash. Read on for analysis as two of the relegation favourites clash in the Basque Country.
- DATE: Sunday 18th October 2020
- KICK-OFF: 18:30 (Spanish time)
- VENUE: Mendizorroza
Alaves vs Elche Preview
Two teams who are widely expected to be in the relegation scrap meet in Vitoria on Thursday evening as Alaves play host to newly promoted Elche. Both teams have claimed their first victories of the season but there are worrying signs for both moving forward and they will need to make games like this, where there is a genuine chance of picking up a victory, count.
There was already some pressure building on Alaves boss Pablo Machin heading into their last game against Athletic Club with just 1 point from his opening 4 games and his side struggling to adapt to his methods. However he would have slept much easier over the international break with his preferred 3-5-2 system delivering a priceless 1-0 victory to lift his side off the foot of the table.
In theory they won’t get a better chance all season to put back-to-back wins together than they will here in the form of a home fixture against relegation favourites Elche. To give the new boys some credit though, they have responded well to a 3-0 home loss in their first game back in the top flight with Jorge Almirón’s side keeping clean sheets in both games since then – a 1-0 win at Eibar and a 0-0 home draw against fellow new boys Huesca.
Elche only found out they would be in this league this season in late August and after a slow start, they eventually got a lot of transfer business done. Free agents can still be registered even after the deadline has shut and their recruitment has continued with central defender Diego González the latest to arrive on a free from crisis club Malaga.
Following stronger recent results, we shouldn’t see too many surprises in terms of team selections here. Alaves are missing Rubén Duarte to suspension but should still line up 3-5-2 with Joselu and Lucas Perez up top. Josema is out with a hamstring injury which should see Juan Sanchez Mino come in to make his full Elche debut at left-back.
Predicted Alaves XI:
Pacheco – Ely, Navarro, Lejeune – Rioja, Pina, Battaglia, Pons, Mendez – Perez, Joselu (3-5-2)
Predicted Elche XI:
Badia – Sanchez Mino, Calvo, Verdu, Barragan – Guti, Mtulu – Fidel, Morente, Josan – Boye (4-2-3-1)
Alaves vs Elche Predictions
Score Prediction: Alaves 1-0 Elche
Elche do appear to have done some business that will give them at least a chance of being competitive but they’ve been fortunate to pick up as many as 4 points from their 3 games so far. They had just 2 attempts to Huesca’s 18 in their last match and have only managed 4 shots on target all season. Alaves will be feeling much more confident having broken their duck under Pablo Machin and should edge this one.
Alaves vs Elche Betting Tips (18+)
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