Elche vs Granada match preview and predictions for Sunday’s LaLiga match. Read on for the head-to-head, team news and predicted lineups as the hosts aim to keep up their strong start to the season.
- DATE: Sunday 13th December 2020
- KICK-OFF: 18:30 (local time)
- VENUE: Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero
- COMPETITION: LaLiga
Elche vs Granada Preview
Just one point separates Elche and Granada heading into this weekend’s clash in LaLiga. With the visitors in poor form, Elche may just see this as a good chance to record another victory which would push them onto 17 points, an outstanding return after what would be 11 games for a newly promoted side who were almost universally tipped to go down.
Perhaps surprisingly, Elche are still the bookies’ clear favourites for the drop this season despite their current lofty position. That’s despite a run which has seen them lose just 1 of their last 8 matches with four straight draws for the Valencian club heading into this match. The latest was an excellent 0-0 draw at Villarreal.
The reasons why Elche are still likely to slip back into a relegation scrap can be explained to some extent by looking at their Expected Goals and Expected Points stats. According to Understat, they are comfortably the worst team in the division in both categories so far with 5.93 xG and 6.29 xPTS. Put bluntly, this suggests they have been very fortunate to have accumulated so many points so far.
Elche boss Jorge Almiron won’t be having too many sleepless nights thinking about that, but his opposite number here will be a slightly worried man at the moment. Granada have only managed to take 2 points from their last 5 league games. Their only victory in their last seven overall came at home to Cypriot minnows Omonia in the Europa League.
With no European distractions for a couple of months now, Martinez will be focused on trying to get his team playing their best football again in LaLiga. They are still in a pretty good position in the league despite that downturn in form but having conceded 3 goals in each of their last 3 league games, it’s clear that something isn’t quite working right now for the Andalusians.
Check out our match previews for every game in LaLiga this weekend here!
Head to Head
- Last 6 Competitive Meetings: 1 Elche Win, 3 Granada Wins, 2 Draws.
- 4 of the last 6 meetings in Elche have been drawn.
- The sides last met in the 2018/19 Segunda Division with Granada taking 4 points that season from the 2 games.
- Their last win on this ground came in LaLiga in 2013.
Team News
Guido Carrillo is the only injury doubt for the hosts.
Granada have problems at centre-back with German Sanchez and Jesús Vallejo absent here. Atletico Madrid loanee Nehuen Perez may feature from the off as a result.
Predicted Elche Starting Lineup:
Badia – Josema, Gonzalez, Verdu, Barragan – Marcone – Morente, Fidel, Raul Guti, Josan – Boye (4-1-4-1)
Predicted Granada Starting Lineup:
Silva – Neva, Perez, Duarte, Foulquier – Gonalons, Milla, Herrera – Machis, Soldado, Suarez (4-3-3)
Elche vs Granada Predictions
Score Prediction: Elche 1-2 Granada
Diego Martinez was able to rest a host of key players on Thursday in Europe so it should be a reasonably fresh Granada team that heads into this and that could be significant. They have lost their way a bit, but there is quality in the visiting ranks and they certainly offer more goal threat than their opponents. This could be the game where Granada get back on track with a more solid display and potentially all three points.
LaLiga Betting Tips (18+)
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