Elche vs Almeria – Preview, H2H, Line-ups, Prediction | La Liga 2022-23

Spain's La Liga sets protocols for the return of fans
Spain's La Liga sets protocols for the return of fans

Elche and Almeria will battle for three points when both sides meet at Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero on Monday.

Venue: Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero (Elche

Key Statistics

Elche have just one clean sheet from their last seven home league games.

They have won just two of their last seven home games (D1, L4). 

Only relegated Alavés (six) and Levante (seven) kept fewer clean sheets than Los Franjiverdes’ eight last season.

Almeria fielded the second-youngest LL side on matchday one. 

The visitors held the joint-fewest away losses (six) in Spain’s second division last season. 

They have not won on La Liga matchday two this century (D3, L3).

Head to head

Both sides hold an identical record in the last nine head-to-head contests (W3, D3, L3), but Elche haven’t won at home during this run. 

Latest performances in all competitions

Elche: L-W-L-L-W

Almeria: L-L-W-L-W

Elche

Elche will look to bounce back from their chastening 3-0 loss in the first round of the 2022/23 La Liga season when they welcome La Liga newcomers Almeria to the Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero.

The hosts were punished for their naivety and rash defending last weekend by Real Betis who capitalised on their numerical advantage after Elche’s 21-year-old John Nwankwo was sent off after just 16 minutes – the youngest-ever Elche player to see red in La Liga.

Although he expressed his disappointment with the result, Elche boss Francisco was bullish about the naivety of his defence post-match, stating that “these errors can’t be committed in the top-flight”.

But with teams in the top flight always ready to punish any lapses in concentration, Francisco will hope that his team have learnt their lesson as his side continues their quest to better their 13th-place finish of last season. 

There might be no better team for Elche to seek to bounce back than newly promoted Almeria, a side they have beaten in each of their last two meetings. 

Possible Elche starting line-up

Edgar Badia; Enzo Roco, Gonzalez Polanco, Pedro Bigas; Johan Mojica, Helibelton Palacios, Gerard Gumbau, Omar Mascarell, Fidel, Pere Milla, Roger Marti.

Injured: Jony Alamo, Gonzalo Verdu 

Doubtful: None 

Suspended: John Chetauya

Almeria

Almeria began their campaign in the top flight with a respectable 2-1 loss to defending champions Real Madrid, last weekend.

In an entertaining game at the Estadio de Los Juegos Mediterráneos Almería took the lead in the sixth minute when Largie Ramazani slotted calmly past Thibaut Courtois after being played in behind the Madrid defence by a superb Íñigo Eguaras ball over the top. 

But despite holding onto their slender lead for over an hour, the hosts were undone by a brilliant free-kick by David Alaba after Lucas Vasquez had equalised for Madrid. 

Although they will feel hard done by the result which extended their winless run in La Liga to six games, they will also feel encouraged by their effort to hold down arguably the best team in Europe. 

With Elche a less hard opponent, Almeria will fancy their chances of getting a good result in this tie. 

Possible Almeria starting line-up

Fernando Martinez; Alejandro Pozo, Rodrigo Ely, Srdjan Babic, Sergio Akieme; Cesar De la Hoz; Samu Costa, Lucas Robertone; Lergie Ramezani, Portillo Soler, Sadiq Umar.

Injured: Ivan Martos, Juanjo Nieto

Doubtful: Leo Baptistao

Suspended: None 

Prediction

Elche 1-1 Almeria