Elche vs Real Madrid match preview and predictions for Wednesday’s LaLiga match. Read on for the head-to-head, team news and predicted lineups as Los Blancos travel to face newly promoted opposition.
- DATE: Wednesday 30th December 2020
- KICK-OFF: 21:30 (local time)
- VENUE: Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero
- COMPETITION: LaLiga
Elche vs Real Madrid Preview
Real Madrid travel to the Valencian Community for their final game of 2020, against Elche at the Martinez Valero. This is a meeting of the defending champions and the pre-season relegation favourites but in this season of shocks and surprises, we’ve learned to expect the unexpected, particularly when Los Blancos have been involved.
Elche have certainly exceeded expectations so far. Having unexpectedly won promotion from the Segunda Division via the playoffs, only a few weeks before the 2020/21 campaign was due to commence, few seriously thought they would have enough to stay up. Some of their performances and many stats suggest they are still likely to go down, but a return of 15 points from their opening 13 games has at least given them a platform from which to compete.
They twice came from behind to draw 2-2 against relegation rivals Osasuna last time out. That was a really important point for Jorge Almiron but they have now gone 8 league games without a victory and the Elche boss will feel as though he does need some fresh blood in January if they are going to get anywhere close to that 40 point figure which is usually enough for survival.
As for Real Madrid, things are looking considerably brighter than they were at the start of this month. There have already been several inexplicably bad performances and results this season for Los Blancos, but when they get going and build up some momentum, they are still the best team in Spain.
That is exactly what they have been doing of late with 6 straight wins in all competitions and they’ll strongly fancy their chances of making that 7 here. The likes of Karim Benzema and Luka Modric have both hit top form and while there is some frustration that their young guns aren’t really firing, Madrid still have that strong, experienced spine which Zidane will continue to rely on for the remainder of this campaign.
Read all our LaLiga match previews here!
Head to Head
- Last 4 Competitive Meetings: 4 Real Madrid Wins.
- Real Madrid have won all of the last 4 meetings.
- They’ve scored 12 goals in their last 4 games against Elche.
- The sides last met in LaLiga 2014/15 when Los Blancos recorded 5-1 and 2-0 victories.
Team News
Diego Gonzalez and Omenuke Mfulu are both rated doubtful for the hosts.
Rodrygo is an injury concern for the visitors but Luka Modric is expected to be fit following a muscle strain.
Predicted Elche Starting Lineup:
Badia – Mino, Josema, Verdu, Barragan – Marcone – Morente, Fidel, Guti, Josan – Boye (4-1-4-1)
Predicted Real Madrid Starting Lineup:
Courtois – Mendy, Varane, Ramos, Carvajal – Kroos, Casemiro, Modric – Asensio, Benzema, Vazquez (4-3-3)
Elche vs Real Madrid Predictions
Score Prediction: Elche 0-2 Real Madrid
There should only be one result here. Elche don’t have enough quality in the final third or the kind of effective counter-attacking game to cause Real Madrid problems in the same way one or two of the other smaller clubs have done this season. Los Blancos are in good form and unless Zidane decides to rest a number of players, this should be a relatively routine win for them.
Elche vs Real Madrid Betting Tips (18+)
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