MX23RW : Sunday, January 9 07:19:52| >> :120:36599:36599:
Jan 2, 2022 at 3.15pm UK at Martinez Valero
ElcheElche
0-0
GranadaGranada

Francisco (19'), Fidel (45+4'), Francisco (45+4'), Pastore (45+5'), Morente (45+5')
Gonzalez (47')
FT

Machis (45+6'), Suarez Charris (45+8'), Quini (58')

Preview: Elche vs. Granada - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's La Liga clash between Elche and Granada, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

As La Liga emerges from its winter break, Elche start 2022 by welcoming Granada to Estadio Martinez Valero on Sunday.

While the home side were beaten by a late Barcelona strike last time out, their visitors paused for the festive season having posted back-to-back wins - the second coming against reigning champions Atletico Madrid.


Match preview

Elche's Gonzalo Verdu in action with Atletico Madrid's Thomas Lemar on August 22, 2021© Reuters

In the space of barely a minute during their pre-Christmas trip to Camp Nou, La Liga strugglers Elche managed to pull themselves back from two goals down against a youthful Barcelona side, raising hopes of a famous win.

However, the hosts' Nico Gonzalez then intervened to seal a dramatic 3-2 victory for the fortunate Blaugrana - consigning the Valencian outfit to a ninth league defeat of the campaign.

In all, Los Franjiverdes came out on top in just three of their 18 games in the first half of the season, which has left them 17th in the table - separated from the relegation zone only by goal difference - so head coach Francisco will be seeking an improvement heading into the new year.

The former Girona manager was appointed in November - initially until the end of the current campaign - after Fran Escriba was shown the door, and Elche have since picked up a win over Cadiz and a couple of Copa del Rey triumphs too.

They are winless in each of their last eight top-flight meetings with Sunday's opponents, however, and last scored against them in La Liga back in 1975. Before they resume their Copa quest with a tie against Almeria next week, then, a rare league win would provide a big morale boost, given their history in this fixture.

Granada's Domingos Duarte celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on September 20, 2021© Reuters

Perhaps disheartened that the winter break intervened when it did, Granada return to competitive action having finished off an eventful year with an impressive pair of wins.

Having finished high enough to qualify for continental competition for the first time, 2021 started with a memorable run to the Europa League quarter-finals, but the current campaign has seen Robert Moreno's side slip into the bottom half of the Primera Division standings.

Lying 12th at the halfway point, El Grana were unbeaten in three league games since losing to Real Madrid in November, before picking up six points from six in back-to-back home fixtures against Mallorca and Atletico Madrid just before the winter break.

Although they were eliminated from the Copa del Rey by fourth-tier Mancha Real in between, Granada will treasure their triumph over Atleti, in which they shocked the champions with a 2-1 success at Los Carmenes.

Under pressure, they remained resolute after Joao Felix fired the visitors into an early lead, and Darwin Machis equalised 15 minutes later, before veteran striker Jorge Molina delivered the decisive goal just after the hour mark.

Former Spain boss Moreno will hope, then, to retain that momentum this weekend and lead his club to a third straight top-flight victory for the first time since 2019.

Elche La Liga form:
  • D
  • L
  • D
  • W
  • L
  • L

Elche form (all competitions):
  • D
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • L

Granada La Liga form:
  • L
  • D
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • W

Granada form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • L
  • W
  • W



Team News

Granada coach Robert Moreno pictured on September 20, 2021© Reuters

As the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic's latest wave start to impact La Liga more profoundly than ever, Granada have confirmed that they have four cases in their first team squad and three which have afflicted members of staff.

The visitors have so far decided to withhold the names of the players involved, but Robert Moreno has been without Carlos Neva, Sergio Escudero and Carlos Bacca in training this week, in addition to Santiago Arias, who was injured against his parent club Atletico just before the break.

Maxime Gonalons, though, is back from suspension, and Domingos Duart returns after a long-term injury. Nearing his 40th year, Jorge Molina netted a hat-trick versus Mallorca and was also on target against Atleti, so should lead the line again this weekend.

Elche, meanwhile, have also been hit by a virus outbreak, and while Gonzalo Verdu has now tested negative for COVID-19, Lucas Perez, Lucas Boye, Ivan Marcone and Marseille loanee Dario Benedetto are among those who have been self-isolating, plus several members of the coaching staff.

Francisco will, therefore, field a severely depleted side on Sunday, though at least Colombian defender Johan Mojica has been able to return to training and is fit to start. Mojica's defensive colleague Pedro Bigas is also expected to be available again after a groin strain.

Wide man Tete Morente scored and provided an assist at Camp Nou last time out, so will feature in attack, as several untried academy players receive call-ups to the hosts' squad.

Elche possible starting lineup:
Badia; Palacios, Bigas, Gonzalez, Mojica; Morente, Pastore, Mascarell, Fidel; Piatti, Carillo

Granada possible starting lineup:
Maximiano; Quini, German, Duarte, Abram; Puertas, Milla, Gonalons, Escudero; Molina, Suarez


SM words green background

We say: Elche 1-3 Granada

Another fixture impacted by illness in both squads will most likely go the way of the visiting side, who were picking up pace just before the break and apparently have fewer men missing from their first-choice lineup.

Granada can therefore secure a third win on the bounce, and distance themselves still further from an Elche outfit which is destined to continue its flirt with the drop.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data


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How you voted: Elche vs Granada

Elche
24.7%
Draw
21.2%
Granada
54.1%
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FC Barcelona's Ronald Araujo scores their first goal against Granada in La Liga on September 20, 2021
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid21154245182749
2Sevilla19125230131741
3Real Betis1910363223933
4Real Sociedad209652221133
5Atletico MadridAtletico199553122932
6Barcelona208843123832
7Rayo Vallecano199372620630
8Villarreal1977531201128
9Valencia207763232028
10Athletic Bilbao206952017327
11Espanyol197572222026
12Granada205962427-324
13Celta Vigo206592223-123
14Osasuna195771825-722
15Mallorca204881730-1320
16Getafe194691320-718
17ElcheElche193791827-916
18AlavesAlaves1944111630-1416
19CadizCadiz192891532-1714
20Levante2018112141-2011

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