La Liga: Rojiblancos Can Run Riot in Elche

Elche vs Atletico Madrid

With 2023-24 Champions League qualification all but mathematically in the bag, Atletico Madrid have a day out in Alicante on Sunday, where they may find their hosts, Elche, already on the beach.

Diego Simeone’s side is riding high in second place in the La Liga table. There is no hope of catching Barcelona who should win the title this weekend when they take on Espanyol, but they can stay ahead of third-placed Real Madrid and that would do very nicely for Los Rojiblancos fans.

Elche are already relegated, 18 points adrift with only five games remaining, and it’s all about pride for Los Franjiverdes. But the La Liga 2023 betting odds don’t give them much hope of adding to their 16-point tally when they welcome Atleti.

This is a chance for Los Rojiblancos to improve their goal difference which, at + 34, is three shy of Los Blancos’ record.

If Elche can’t up their game now that all hope is lost, and I struggle to see how they can, they may be better off heading for the beach as this one could get messy.

Talking Points

Goal happy Atletico can help themselves

Atleti have been the form side in the Spanish League over the past couple of months with a spectacular set of La Liga 2023 results propelling them into second place.

A recent clash with champions-elect Barcelona ended in a 1-0 defeat but Los Rojiblancos responded with 13 goals in the last three games, a 3-1 victory over Mallorca, a 5-2 win away to Valladolid, and a 5-1 whacking of Cadiz last week.

Antoine Griezmann and Alvaro Morata have 13 goals from 33 games each, the Frenchman also added 12 assists to make it a triumphant return to Madrid. He has been a revelation from the moment his contract situation was sorted out in Autumn 2022 and, after putting on a brilliant show at Qatar for Les Bleus, Griezmann’s form has carried on back in Madrid.

The fact he has as almost as many assists as goals as he’s the top assist maker in the Spanish top-flight, shows what a superb an all-round attacking player he is. France boss Didier Deschamps played him in a slightly deeper, more fluid role, and he was one of the best players at the World Cup finals.

Similarly, Diego Simeone has built his front six around Griezmann, and in recent weeks it has paid big dividends. The France star scored twice in the destruction of Cadiz and he, along with Morata and Yannick Carrasco, can help themselves to more on Sunday.

Elche should try to remember their last home game

Los Franjiverdes were relegated last week when they went down to a 2-1 defeat away to Almeria and it will be difficult for the players or the fans in the 33,000-capacity stadium to raise their game for this daunting clash.

Head coach Sebastian Beccacece has been in charge at Elche for less than two months, arriving in March as the club’s fourth manager during the 2022/23 season. Changing the head coach with alarming regularity hasn’t helped the club one bit, but Beccacece did pull of a master stroke when Rayo Vallecano came to town two weeks ago.

Only 11,000 turned up at the Martino Valero Stadium but those loyal supporters were treated to a rare, but enjoyable attacking display as Elche ran out 4-0 winners.

It probably helped that Rayo had Florian Lejeune sent off after 27 minutes, but the hosts took their visitors apart in the second half with goals from Lucas Boye, Tete Morente, Fidel, and Gerard Gumbau.

The stadium will be a little fuller for the visit of Atleti and Elche’s hardcore fans will make some noise if they have any encouragement, but they may need Atleti to go down to 10 men or nine.

History

In their 15 meetings with Atletico Madrid this century, Elche have managed just two victories and one draw, losing the last six encounters with Los Rojiblancos with a goal difference of two to 12.

Elche have a home record of two wins, four draws, and 10 defeats this season and have won just one of their last six games. Meanwhile, Atleti have won four in that time and are gathering some serious momentum.

Betting Tip

Elche are at SBOTOP odds of 4.55 to draw and 6.56 to win, though I think this is not a question of whether they will lose but by how many.

Atletico have scored 60 goals this season, joint-second with Barcelona and behind only Real Madrid, while Elche have conceded the most goals of anyone, picking the ball out of their own net 64 times.

For a correct scoreline I think it will be between 0-2 at odds of 5.80, and maybe 0-3 at 8.44.

 

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