Elche fighting against drastic negative trend
The first weeks of the new season are also over in Spain and of course there are already the first crisis teams. One of them is FC Elche, who have really not had a good season so far and are already under pressure
Before the match Elche vs Mallorca the odds show a favourite role for the guests from the island. Based on their record so far, that’s not really surprising, as extremely little has worked for the home side so far.
A sense of achievement for the hosts would be imperative, but recent performances do not give much hope. A jolt must go through the team if they are not to be left at the bottom of the table very early on.
Elche – Statistics & current form
Every year FC Elche start the season as one of the candidates for relegation to the Segunda Division due to the structure in the squad. This has been the case again this season and after seven games played, the spectator knows why. Monday saw a 1-2 defeat at Rayo Vallecano, which was coach Francisco Rodriguez’s last game on the sidelines. Elche are in last place.
The problems are deep-seated and cannot be attributed to the coach alone. But the coach is always the weakest link in a situation like this. It all starts with the squad, which often lacks individual quality and, in many areas, breadth. You certainly can’t play champagne football with it, but offensively at least something more should be possible than has been shown so far.
Because with only three goals in seven games, the difficulties in the offensive area are relatively ruthlessly exposed. No player has been able to score more than one goal, and the top two are often left hanging in the air due to a lack of passes. Something has to change here, one approach would be to break up the back five and move one more player into the midfield.
Elks with extremely poor record
It’s not just the offense that’s weak, though. 18 goals conceded in seven games is an average of more than two goals per game. Even against teams like Athletic or Villarreal, there were four goals conceded. These are individually superior, but not quite up there. Elche’s only point of the season came at home against Almeria in a 1-1 draw.
The last win came on the last matchday of the past season at home against Getafe, and Elche have only won one of their last twelve matches. So, even on a season-long basis, the record is far from ideal. Mallorca, Valencia and Real Madrid are the next opponents, so it won’t be any easier.
Of course, the hosts’ weak record has an influence on the rating of this match. That’s why our prediction before the Elche vs. Mallorca match is that the hosts will not win and that less than 3.5 goals will be scored in total.
Predicted line-up of Elche:
Badia – Lirola, Gonzalez, Roco, Mercau – Mascarell, Guti, Tete Morente, Pastore, Collado – Boyé
Last matches played by Elche:
La Liga
04/10/2022 – Rayo Vallecano 2 – 1 Elche
17/09/2022 – FC Barcelona 3 – 0 Elche
11/09/2022 – Elche 1 – 4 Athletic Bilbao
04/09/2022 – Villarreal FC 4 – 0 Elche
27/08/2022 – Elche 0 – 1 Real Sociedad
Mallorca – Statistics & current form
For Mallorca, too, the primary objective this season is to stay in the league. The team from the island, however, has some advantages over Elche in the squad alone. The squad is more homogeneous and offers the possibility to rotate without losing too much quality. Javier Aguirre’s team almost got a point against FC Barcelona, but lost 1-0 in the end.
Aguirre is a major factor anyway. He can help teams from the bottom of the table very well with his concept of compactness. The record reads decent, three defeats from seven games – against Betis, Real Madrid and Barcelona – are bearable. Against the top teams, it is not enough for points, but the compulsory tasks have been completed.
That’s why Mallorca is currently in mid-table in the league with eight points and can look back on a solid record. In addition, they have only conceded eight goals so far, four of them against the royal team. Apart from that, the defence is good and the offensive is making pinpricks to keep the opponents busy from time to time.
Mallorca arrive as favourites
Six goals of their own are not an outstanding record either, of course, but it always depends on what results those goals are enough for. And here Mallorca has been able to get a lot out of it. There was one win away and one at home, so the guests have no significant loss of quality away from home. Elche will also play with their usual five-man defence.
That could also be a good tool against an unsettled team. From their own defensive position, they will then try to counterattack. Once Mallorca is in the lead, even bigger opponents have a hard time. As both opponents do not exactly shine with great offensive enthusiasm, our value tip before the Elche vs. Mallorca match is that not both teams will score.
Predicted line-up of Mallorca:
Greif – Maffeo, Raillo, Nastasic, Valjent, Jaume Costa – Battaglia, Baba, Lee – Muriqi, Prats
Last matches played in Mallorca:
La Liga
02/10/2022 – Mallorca 0 – 1 FC Barcelona
17/09/2022 – Mallorca 1 – 0 Almeria
11/09/2022 – Real Madrid 4 – 1 Mallorca
03/09/2022 – Mallorca 1 – 1 Girona
28/08/2022 – Rayo Vallecano 0 – 2 Mallorca
Elche – Mallorca Direct Comparison / H2H Balance
The two teams have faced each other 34 times in direct comparison so far. Nine of those games went to Mallorca, eleven to Elche. The two sides have drawn 14 times. In the pre-season, Elche took four points against the Mallorcans, and the goal difference between the two teams is completely equal at 42:42.
Elche – Mallorca Tip
The hosts have a lot at stake in this game, Elche want to break their negative streak, but have almost no confidence at all and especially in the offensive area they are lacking at all corners and ends.
The visitors are not outstanding, but the team at least looks very solid. Therefore, before the game Elche against Mallorca, our tip is that the visitors will not lose, but that the total will be less than 3.5 goals.
