Elche and Villarreal They face each other this Sunday at the Martínez Valero with the aim of prolonging their good dynamics in the regional derby despite the numerous absences, caused by covid, injuries and national team commitments, with which they will face the match, ahead of next Wednesday’s weekday.
The team from Elche, who need the points to escape relegation, arrives at the event revitalized after their victory at Espanyol, while the team led by Unai Emery, with the exception of the blur in the Copa del Rey, has finally found regularity after having added thirteen points of the last fifteen at stake and aspires to continue climbing the table.
One more week, the Elche coach, Francis Rodriguez, has had problems preparing for the match. to the injury of Peter Bigas muscle problems have joined Lucas Boye, already absent against Espanyol, who will be in doubt until the last moment.
Those who will not be in the summons are Fidel Chaves, Colombian Helibelton Palacios and goalkeeper Kiko Casilla, who tested positive for covid in controls this week, so they have not exercised with the group.
The main novelty is the return of central defender Diego González after serving a one-match ban. The Argentines Darío Benedetto, Javier Pastore and Iván Marcone, in the orbit of several Argentine clubs to return to their country, will also be in the summons except for a last minute surprise.
The loss of Palacios will allow Antonio Barragán to return to the right side, while Fidel’s absence will be covered by Pere Milla, who scored a double last day in Barcelona. Guido Carrillo is once again emerging as a starter and a benchmark in attack, along with Lucas Pérez, given the physical problems that Lucas Boyé accuses.
Villarreal, meanwhile, travels with the idea of maintaining the good pace of results in the League, a record that has brought the team closer to Unai Emery to the European places, although the last tie with Atlético de Madrid last weekend has truncated that reaction.
For this reason, the people from Castellón need to win in Elche this weekend in this advanced match, with the intention of being able to be within reach of the European places definitively, although with the handicap of eight known casualties of the injured and of the players who are out of the team for the African Cup.
Francis Coquelin, Rubén Peña, Arnaut Danjuma and Paco Alcácer will be absent due to injury, to which are added those who have gone to the African Cup, Serge Aurier, Boulayé Dia, Samu Chukwueze and Aïssa Mandi, with the unknown of the footballers who will not be able to be due to covid-19, since the club has not made them known.
For this reason, the possible eleven is difficult to know, although it will be very similar to the one that already played against Atlético de Madrid last week with Gero Rulli as goalkeeper and with a defense made up of Juan Foyth, Raúl Albiol, Pau Torres and Pervis Estupiñán.
For the center of the field, Capoue and Parejo will be the pivots, accompanied on the wings by Manu Trigueros and Alberto Moreno, and ahead will be Yeremy Pino and Gerard Moreno, with the option that Moi Gómez could replace Yeremy Pino, which would leave Gerard as the only reference in attack.
Likely lineups
Elche: Edgar Badía, Barragán, Roco, Diego González, Mojica, Morente, Gumbau, Mascarell, Pere Milla, Lucas Pérez and Guido Carrillo or Lucas Boyé.
Villarreal: Rulli, Foyth, Albiol, Pau Torres, Estupiñán, Capoue, Parejo, Trigueros, Alberto Moreno, Gerard and Yeremi Pino or Moi Gómez.
Referee: Pizarro Gómez (Madrid Committee).
Hour: 2:00 p.m.
Stadium: Martinez Valero.