La Liga: Embattled Atleti Need to Make Winning Return Against Elche

Atletico Madrid vs Elche CF

Atletico Madrid are all set to resume their La Liga campaign, and their first assignment back from the World Cup break seems like an easy one on paper as they host bottom club Elche at the Metropolitano Stadium.

Atleti are desperate for all three points after failing to win any of their last three games, all of which were against teams in the bottom half of the table.

Still, the La Liga 2022 betting odds will have the Rojiblancos as overwhelming favourites to beat Elche, who are the only team in La Liga who have yet to win a single match this season.

Talking Points

Question marks abound at Atleti

All is not well at Atletico Madrid. The Rojiblancos return from the break fifth in La Liga after going winless in their last three games. And Atleti also crashed out of the Champions League group stage for the first time since 2018.

These struggles have led to speculation about Diego Simeone’s future at the club, but the Argentine has stated he has no intention of leaving. Simeone has some work to do to turn his team’s fortunes around, though, as question marks abound on both ends of the pitch.

Defensively, this is perhaps the worst a Simeone-led Atleti side has performed in his 12 seasons in charge. With their old guard of defenders gone, Atleti are no longer able to strangle opposing teams’ offences like they once did.

Meanwhile, their attack continues to have concerns. Matheus Cunha has completed his loan move to Wolves, which will reduce Atleti’s depth up front.

Joao Felix, Alvaro Morata, Antoine Griezmann, and Angel Correa remain decent options at striker. Felix (1 goal, 2 assists), Morata (3 goals, 1 assist), and Griezmann (3 assists) all had fine World Cups, but there is much speculation about Joao Felix’s future, with recent La Liga 2022 news linking him with a move to the Premier League.

Joao Felix scored three goals in Atleti’s last two games before the break, though, and with Antoine Griezmann possibly set to be given a bit more time off after his extended World Cup run, the Portuguese youngster might be handed the start amid the rumours of his potential exit.

Elche in big trouble

Elche’s three-year stay in Spain’s top flight might be coming to an end. Los Ilicitanos find themselves bottom of La Liga through 14 rounds, with no wins and just four points from their first 14 games. Elche are already seven points back of second-from-bottom Cadiz and are a further eight points from safety.

Elche lost each of their last three games before the break, and to make matters worse, they were all very winnable games against Getafe (15th), Real Valladolid (12th), and Girona (13th), who were all on the bottom half of the table.

Los Ilicitanos have been leaking goals all season long. They have already conceded 31 goals, five more than the next-closest teams. Meanwhile, they have not been much better in attack with just 10 goals scored, which is second from bottom.

Elche coach Sergio Mantecón will be hoping his side can gain a bit of confidence from their 3-0 win over Guadalajara in the Copa del Rey second round. Top scorers Pere Milla (3 goals) and Ezequiel Ponce (2 goals) both got on the scoresheet.

History

Atletico Madrid have absolutely dominated Elche over the years. The Rojiblancos have won their last 10 games in a row against them. Moreover, they are unbeaten against Elche in 23 matches at home, with 20 wins, including the last 13 in a row. That’s the most games Atleti have ever play against a La Liga opponent at home without losing.

The chances of Elche ending that long winless drought don’t look too good, either. They have won just one of their last 11 away games, which came all the way back in September 2021.

Betting Tip 

SBOTOP odds have Atletico Madrid installed as massive 1.28 favourites over Elche, who have astronomical 10.00 odds of getting their first win of the season – and their first win at Atleti – this week. A draw is 5.20.

Atletico Madrid have had a terrible home record thus far this season. They’ve won just two of their five home games, with two draws and two defeats.

With all the issues surrounding Atleti at the moment, Elche have the chance to at least make things competitive at the Civitas Metropolitano.

 

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