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

Elche will be looking to move out of the La Liga relegation zone when they welcome an out-of-form Levante to Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero on Saturday afternoon.

The home side are currently 19th in the table, one point behind 17th-placed Real Valladolid, while Levante, who have lost four of their last five in the league, occupy 12th spot.

Match preview

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The race to stay in Spain's top flight this season is fascinating, with only four points separating 19th-placed Elche from 15th-placed Getafe, showing that a lot could change before the end of the campaign.

Elche have played a game more than the other two sides in the relegation zone - Huesca and Eibar - but a victory this weekend would be a huge boost to their chances of staying in the division.

Fran Escriba's side have won five, drawn 12 and lost 15 of their 32 league games this term to collect 27 points; they are without a victory in Spain's top flight since the start of March but have only lost two of their last five, holding Getafe, Real Betis and Real Valladolid to score draws.

Los Franjiverdes have the worst away record in La Liga this term, but they have only actually lost four of their 15 home league fixtures, which should hand them confidence ahead of this weekend's clash.

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Levante are not in any relegation danger at this stage, having collected 38 points from their 32 matches, which has left them 11 points clear of the bottom three as things stand.

The Frogs have finished 15th, 15th and 12th in their three seasons since returning to the top tier, but they are only a point behind ninth-placed Granada at this stage.

A top-half position is certainly open, but a disappointing run of form has seen them win just one of their last five matches in Spain's top flight, suffering four defeats in the process.

Levante were victorious in their last away match - beating Eibar 1-0 on April 10 - but have been beaten 5-1 by Villarreal and 1-0 by Sevilla in their last two home fixtures.

Paco Lopez's side have not actually overcome Elche in La Liga since December 2013, meanwhile, and the two most recent contests between the two sides have finished level, including a 1-1 draw earlier this season.

Team News

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Elche will be without three players through suspension on Saturday as Emiliano Rigoni, Gonzalo Verdu and Pere Milla all picked up notable yellow cards against Valladolid last time out.

Guido Carrillo and Josema remain doubts through injury, meanwhile, meaning that the relegation-threatened outfit will be far from at full strength heading into this weekend's contest.

Lucas Boye is likely to lead the line with support from Fidel and Josan Fernandez in the wide areas, while Johan Mojica and Helibelton Palacios are pushing for spots in the side.

As for Levante, Ruben Rochina is suspended due to the booking that he picked up in the 1-0 defeat to Sevilla on Wednesday night.

Jose Campana will again miss out through injury, while Nikola Vukcevic, Nemanja Radoja and Jorge Miramon are unlikely to be available for selection.

Carlos Clerc is back after a suspension of his own, though, and is expected to return to the starting XI, while Roger Marti and Jose Luis Morales should be back in the team.

Elche possible starting lineup:
Gazzaniga; Palacios, Calvo, Gonzalez, Mojica; Guti, Marcone; Fidel, Morente, Josan; Boye

Levante possible starting lineup:
Cardenas; Coke, Vezo, Postigo, Clerc; De Frutos, Bardhi, Malsa, Melero; Marti, Morales

We say: Elche 1-1 Levante

Elche have only been beaten four times in the league at home this season, which is a strong record considering their position in the table. Levante are struggling for results at the moment, meanwhile, and we can see the hosts picking up a share of the spoils this weekend.