So, five of these are incoming – as much as I’m enjoying the weekly write ups, I couldn’t bring myself to spend my Christmas trying to follow the day-by-day in five different European leagues, so one big bulk review per club in the aftermath it is.
I left Elche here:
Which is, let’s be honest, a hell of a start to the season for relegation favourites in what’s widely considered to be one of Europe’s toughest leagues. Since I left them, Elche have had five league games and two cup games (the second of which is, bizarrely, being played at 11am pretty much as I write this – I don’t know, either!). An exceptionally busy Christmas period that hasn’t gone well at all…
First off was a vibrant contest with Granada, in which both teams created penty of chances, though Granada certainly had the better of them, and deserved to come out one nil winners. Some of the saves in this game are really quite exceptional…
Atletico Madrid were always going to be a tough ask as the capital’s second club push for a title at the top end, and so it proved. This game came with the odd stat that three consecutive goals against Elche had been scored by Luis Suarez, though two of them were by one man (the former Liverpool striker), and a third by a different player sharing his name (the Granada forward).
Elche put up a decent fight here, especially at 2-0 down, and could have pulled it back to 2-2 before Atletico got one of those penalties that frustrates you when you don’t support the team – a ‘high foot’ on Diego Costa. 3-1, but a loss to be expected, really.
Osasuna at home was probably the best chance to pick up points during the Christmas break, and so it proved, in one of those ‘neither of these teams can defend’ kind of games.
At least they’re lashing in a few goals, I guess…
Then came Real Madrid, and the highlight of the Christmas season for Elche. The penalty equalier for the Catalans was probably a bit fortunate, but they could have won this, though not without a great performance from their goalkeeper (duly delivered). Both sides hit the woodwork in a lively game. Obviously being an underdog fan, I did enjoy the giants being matched.
Finally, Elche made the long trip to Athletic Bilbao, a game that had a real New Year lethargy to it, with Elche summoning up only one decent chance to speak of. They’ve now gone nine games without a win, and while there’s been a few draws in there, it’s worrying form that has dropped them right back into danger.
All of which means Elche are now firmly in a relegation battle, sitting in the drop zone on goal difference above, surprisingly, big local rivals Valencia. At least those games in hand provide some comfort. Here’s how it stands, with key games against struggling clubs in the coming weeks…
