Elche are set to get their pre-season preparations underway when they take on Rotherham United at the La Finca Resort this Saturday.
The Spanish side are preparing for their first season back in the Segunda Division, having been relegated last season, with Rotherham set for another season in the Championship.
Match preview
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Elche were relegated in pretty disappointing fashion last season, picking up just 25 points in 38 games, meaning they finished the season 16 points from safety.
However, under the helm of Sebastian Beccacece, who took over near the end of March, Los Franjiverdes did show some real signs of improvement, losing just one of their last seven La Liga games, winning three.
As such, the Spanish side may be cautiously optimistic heading into the new season, as they prepare for life back in the second tier for the first time since the 2019-20 campaign.
Elche currently have three friendlies pencilled in before the start of the Segunda Division season, when they take on Racing Club de Ferrol on the opening day, with matches against Cartagena and Tenerife set to take place later this month.
Beccacece will be keen to build momentum heading into what he hopes will be a promotion-winning campaign, and his first test will be against a side that are also set to compete in the second tier of their league system next season.
Having developed a bit of a reputation for being a yo-yo club in recent years, Rotherham managed to avoid the drop last season, eventually finishing 19th in the Championship, six points clear of the relegation zone.
A 1-0 victory against promotion-chasing Middlesbrough at the start of May ultimately got the Millers over the line, but they did not make things easy for themselves, winning just one of their last seven league games.
Ultimately, manager Matt Taylor managed to get the job done, and he will now be hoping his side can build on their 19th-placed finish last season by challenging further up the table.
In their only pre-season game prior to Saturday's encounter, Rotherham picked up a routine 2-0 victory against local side Parkgate, with Cohen Bramall and Georgie Kelly getting on the scoresheet.
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Team News
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Elche have already been busy in the transfer market, having signed central midfielder Aleix Febas on a free transfer from Malaga, and the 27-year-old could slot right into the starting XI, playing alongside Randy Nteka.
Miguel San Roman has recently arrived from Ponferradina, and the goalkeeper could get the nod between the sticks, with fellow new signing Alex Martin playing just in front at centre-back.
Rotherham have made three new additions to the first-team squad this summer, with Portuguese midfielder Cafu joining from Nottingham Forest last week, and the 30-year-old could get the nod in the engine room, accompanying Jamie Lindsay.
The Millers' other summer acquisitions include goalkeeper Dillon Phillips and centre-back Grant Hall, both of whom arrived on free transfers, and they could be set to make their second appearances for the club this weekend, having both featured against Parkgate last time out.
Elche possible starting lineup:
San Roman; Josan, Martin, Blanco, Salinas; Donald, Febas, Fidel, Gumbau, Nteka; Boye
Rotherham United possible starting lineup:
Phillips; Humphreys, Hall, Kioso; Fosu, Cafu, Lindsay, Bramall; Kelly, Odoffin, Hugill
We say: Elche 1-1 Rotherham United
It is always very difficult to predict how seriously teams will take pre-season games, but the two sides seem fairly evenly-matched, and we expect a draw this weekend.
Of course, the main aim for both sides will be to get some minutes in the bank ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.
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