In desperate need of a bounce back, Real Madrid are headed to Elche for what should be a routine outing against the newly promoted side.
What started as a near-perfect campaign under Xabi Alonso quickly turned sour ahead of the November international break. Five days after a poor 1–0 defeat to Liverpool, Real Madrid only managed a goalless draw with Rayo Vallecano.
Los Blancos saw their gap ahead of Barcelona cut down to three, and one more stumble could open the door for the defending Spanish champions to take their place atop the La Liga standings.
The good news for Alonso’s men is that their first match back from the international break comes against Elche, an opponent Real Madrid have dominated in the past. In fact, the Spanish giants are on a 17-game unbeaten run against their upcoming opponents, whose last victory against Los Blancos came in 1975.
Here is Sports Illustrated’s guide to the La Liga bout.
What Time Does Elche vs. Real Madrid Kick Off?
- Location: Elche, Spain
- Stadium: Estadio Martínez Valero
- Date: Sunday, Nov. 23
- Kick-off Time: 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. GMT
- Referee: Francisco Jose Hernandez
Elche vs. Real Madrid Head-to-Head Record (Last Five Games)
- Elche: 0 wins
- Real Madrid: 4 wins
- Draws: 1
- Last meeting: Real Madrid 4–0 Elche (Feb. 15, 2023)—La Liga
Current Form (All Competitions)
How to Watch Elche vs. Real Madrid on TV, Live Stream
Elche Team News
Unlike Real Madrid, Elche are almost at full strength. Eder Sarabia confirmed he will only be unable to call on Josan for Sunday’s clash; the Spaniard is dealing with a minor muscle injury.
Pedro Bigas, meanwhile, is back in training with the team and will be available against Real Madrid, though he is expected to start on the bench since he has not featured in nearly three weeks.
Who gets the starting nod at goalkeeper remains the big question for Elche. Sarabia has made a habit of rotating Matías Dituro and Iñaki Peña between the posts, but the latter has the edge.
Elche Predicted Lineup vs. Real Madrid
Elche predicted lineup vs. Real Madrid (4-1-4-1): Peña; Núñez, Affengruber, Chust, Pedrosa; Aguado; Diaby, Mendoza, Febas, Mir; A. Rodríguez.
Real Madrid Team News
The international break was not kind to Real Madrid. Éder Militão sustained an adductor injury while representing Brazil and will miss the next two weeks of action, joining Antonio Rüdiger and Dani Carvajal on the sidelines.
Thibaut Courtois, Kylian Mbappé, Eduardo Camavinga and Federico Valverde all also suffered injury scares during the November international window, but the four players are expected to be fit and ready to start.
Dean Huijsen remains a doubt, though the center back will likely feature even if he is not 100% just because of Real Madrid’s lack of options in defense. Aurélien Tchouaméni and Franco Mastantuono, meanwhile, will be in a race against the clock to make the trip to the Estadio Martínez Valero.
Real Madrid Predicted Lineup vs. Elche
Real Madrid predicted lineup vs. Elche (4-3-1-2): Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Asencio, Huijsen, Carreras; Valverde, Camavinga, Güler; Bellingham; Vinícius, Mbappé.
Elche vs. Real Madrid Score Prediction
Even if Real Madrid have to shake off some rust from the international break, it is hard to see the Spanish giants dropping points for a third consecutive match, especially against a team that has not collected three points in La Liga since September.
The addition of Trent Alexander-Arnold back into Alonso’s lineup gives Los Blancos a much-needed boost in the attack, one that can help exploit a backline that has kept just one clean sheet in its last seven matches in the Spanish top-flight.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Elche vs. Real Madrid: Preview, Predictions and Lineups.
