Elche vs Real Mallorca – 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 Real Mallorca will square up this Monday in the last fixture of Matchday Eight of the 2022/23 La Liga season.

Venue: Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero (Elche) 

Key Statistics

Elche have conceded within 25 minutes in all three league games at the Estadio Martínez Valero so far.

The hosts have lost their last five games.

They are winless in their last seven league games (D1, L6).

They have failed to score in four out of their seven league games this season.

Elche have conceded first in their past six La Liga home games.

Real Mallorca have scored just six goals in the league this season. Only Cadiz (1) and Elche (3) have scored fewer goals.

The visitors have kept two clean sheets in three league games away from home this season.

Head to head

Elche are unbeaten in their last five games against Mallorca (W1, D4).

Latest performances in all competitions

Elche: L-L-L-L-L

Mallorca: L-W-L-D-W

Elche

La Liga’s worst team Elche will look to begin life without manager Francisco this Monday when they face fellow relegation battlers Real Mallorca.

The hosts suffered a disappointing 95th-minute 2-1 defeat to Rayo Vallecano last time. The loss was their fifth in a row and led to the sacking of manager Francisco by the club’s board.

The board took the decision to relieve Francisco of this season, given Elche’s record so far. The hosts are still waiting for a first La Liga win of the season (D1, L6) meaning that they come into this tie sitting at the bottom of the table.

Shortly before his departure, Francisco called Elche’s current situation ‘’a mess’’, which represents an unfortunate downturn after the Alicante side finished in 13th place last season. 

The new manager has a tough job on his hands getting Elche back to the heights of last season. But they can’t afford to reminisce if they want to avoid the drop, and must fix some torrid defensive home form to help them secure a positive result here, after conceding within 25 minutes in all three league games at the Estadio Martínez Valero so far.

Possible Elche starting line-up

Edgar Badia; Helibelton Palacios, Gonzalez Polanco, Enzo Roco, Carlos Clerc; Raul Guti, John Donald Chetauya, Gerard Gumbau; Tete Morente, Pere Milla, Lucas Boye.

Injured: Fidel, Pedro Bigas, Omar Mascarell 

Doubtful: None 

Suspended: None

Mallorca 

Mallorca suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Barcelona last week but will fancy their chances of bouncing back in this game against the bottom-placed Elche.

The visitors have enjoyed some good results this season with two wins and two draws on the board.

Three losses have also accompanied those results, but the visitors should be satisfied with their results as all those losses have been narrow (apart from a 4-1 loss to Real Madrid).

Mallorca’s current 12th-place position matches that of the same stage last season before they were eventually dragged into drop-zone drama, sealing a crucial win on the final day to avoid relegation.

Manager Javier Aguirre might have that in mind, but he will probably place more emphasis on the positives and securing Mallorca’s first top-half La Liga finish since 2011/12. 

Possible Mallorca starting line-up

Predrag Rajkovic; Martin Valjent, Antonio Raillo, Matija Nastasic; Pablo Maffeo, Kang-in Lee, Andres Battaglia, Manuel Arias; I. Ruiz de, Antonio Sanchez; Vedat Muriqi.

Injured: Tino Kadewere, Jaume Costa

Doubtful: Dominik Greif  

Suspended: None 

Prediction

Elche 1-2 Mallorca