MX23RW : Monday, November 25 12:46:24| >> :60:1086:1086:
[monks data]
Elche
La Liga
Feb 22, 2015 at 8pm UK
 
Real Madrid logo

0-2

FT(HT: 0-0)
Benzema (56'), Ronaldo (69')

Preview: Elche vs. Real Madrid

Sports Mole previews the La Liga encounter between Elche and league leaders Real Madrid.

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti takes his side to play Elche on Sunday with his squad having recovered from their 4-0 defeat at rivals Atletico Madrid.

The humbling loss to last year's La Liga winners could have derailed Real's excellent campaign, but successive wins and clean sheets against Deportivo la Coruna and Schalke 04 have helped steady the ship at the Bernabeu.

Ancelotti will also be encouraged after seeing Cristiano Ronaldo net his first goal since January 18, but the Portuguese attacker has still only scored in four of his last 11 matches in all competitions.

Midfielder Lucas Silva could remain in the side after making his first start for the club, with changes likely to be kept to a minimum as Fabio Coentrao, Sami Khedira, James Rodriguez, Sergio Ramos and Luka Modric are all sidelined through injury.

Elche have spent the majority of the La Liga campaign in the bottom three but four wins from six games have sparked an incredible turnaround at Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero.

Thirteen points from seven games have helped the Franjiverdes move four points clear of the relegation zone, a record made all the more impressive after they suffered a 6-0 home defeat to Barcelona during the middle of their current run.

That setback could have demoralised an improving team, but aside from that loss, Elche have been superb in defence, conceding just once in their other four outings.

An injury doubt remains over David Lomban, but if the defender is declared fit, manager Fran Escriba is likely to name the same team that defeated Eibar on Monday night.

Elche:

Form in La Liga: WWLLWW
Form in all competitions: LWLLWW

Possible starting lineup: Tyton, Lomban, Suarez, Edu Albacar, Roco, Aaron Niguez, Adrian, Fajr, Pasalic, Jonathas, Victor Rodriguez

Real Madrid:

Form in La Liga: WWWWLW
Form in all competitions: WWWLWW

Possible starting lineup: Casillas; Carvajal, Pepe, Varane, Marcelo; Silva, Kroos, Isco; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo

Sports Mole says: 0-4


ID:206518: cacheID:206518:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4797:No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Pepe for Real Madrid on October 18, 2014
Read Next:
Pepe returns to Real Madrid squad
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona14111242142834
2Real Madrid1393128111730
3Atletico MadridAtletico148512181329
4Villarreal137422521425
5Athletic Bilbao146532013723
6Osasuna146441922-322
7GironaGirona146352018221
8Mallorca146351312121
9Real BetisBetis145541616020
10Real Sociedad145361111018
11Celta Vigo145362224-218
12Sevilla145361318-518
13Rayo Vallecano134451314-116
14Leganes143561319-614
15Getafe142751011-113
16AlavesAlaves144191524-913
17Las PalmasLas Palmas143381825-712
18Valencia122461219-710
19Espanyol133191226-1410
20Real ValladolidValladolid142391027-179


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!