🏏 Sat, 11 Apr 2026 16:15 CEST
Elche CF
vs
Valencia
3-4-1-2 vs 4-4-2
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- 18th-placed Elche (29 points) host 14th-placed Valencia (35 points) in a tense affair. Elche are just two points adrift of Sevilla in 17th and desperately need a home win to boost their survival hopes. Valencia are not safe either — a slip-up here could drag them right back into the relegation battle.
- The reverse fixture (Matchday 19 at Mestalla) ended 1-1. Having snatched a draw on Valencia's turf, Elche now need to convert home advantage into all three points.
- Both sides line up in a 4-4-2, setting up a direct clash between the front pairings. The intensity of the midfield press and the wide duels will be crucial, with one-on-one battles on the flanks likely to prove decisive.
- Elche's strike partnership of Rafa Mir and Andre Silva brings a wealth of experience. Mir stands at 191cm and Silva at 185cm, both commanding in the air. Silva, who netted 28 Bundesliga goals during his time at Frankfurt, remains a clinical finisher. Valencia's centre-backs Eray Comert and Cesar Tarrega (194cm) will need to handle the aerial bombardment.
- Elche's left side features German Valera, an Atletico Madrid academy product with a sweet left foot. Typically a right-sided player who loves to cut inside, he lines up on the left here, creating an intriguing matchup against Valencia right-back Thierry Correia.
- Rafa Mir faces his former club Valencia, adding extra motivation. Midfielder Gonzalo Villar also has Valencia connections on top of being an Elche youth product — a double homecoming of sorts. German Valera is another ex-Valencia player, meaning three former Valencia men start for Elche.
- Valencia's attacking spearhead is Argentina international Lucas Beltran. On loan from Fiorentina, the mobile striker won the Copa Libertadores with River Plate and brings energy and movement to the front line. His partner Umar Sadiq, a 192cm Nigerian international, offers a powerful aerial presence and hold-up play.
- Valencia's left flank features Raji Ramazani, a Manchester United academy graduate. Despite his slight 167cm frame, his explosive acceleration and agility make him a nightmare for defenders. His duel with Elche's 18-year-old right-back Buba Sangare, a young talent signed from Roma, promises a thrilling speed contest.
- Valencia captain Jose Gaya is a one-club man and symbol of the club, having risen through the academy. The Spain international left-back's precise left-footed crosses will be a key supply line to the front two. In such a high-stakes fixture, his leadership will be equally important.
- Elche's young centre-back David Affengruber has won Austrian league titles with Sturm Graz and Salzburg, and is developing rapidly in La Liga. With interest from the likes of Atletico Madrid and Manchester United, his stock is rising fast — all eyes will be on whether he can deliver composed defending under the intense pressure of a relegation battle.