Who: Actual Madrid vs Elche
What: Spanish soccer’s La Liga
The place: Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain
When: Saturday, March 14 at 9pm (20:00 GMT)
How you can comply with: Al Jazeera Sport’s reside protection begins at 17:00 GMT
After stuttering and spluttering in Spain’s La Liga of late, Actual Madrid stormed again into life with a powerful win within the UEFA Champions League in midweek.
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Now the document La Liga winners return their deal with catching league leaders, and defending champions, Barcelona, within the Spanish high flight.
Elche arrive in Madrid with main considerations of their very own, sitting one place above the relegation zone.
Al Jazeera Sport takes a better have a look at the sport.
How is Actual Madrid and Barcelona’s La Liga title race wanting?
Barcelona are 4 factors away from Actual, having each performed 27 matches. Barca have gained 22 of their matches and misplaced 4, whereas Actual have misplaced that very same quantity however have solely gained 20, drawing two extra video games than their rivals.
Barcelona entertain 14th-placed Seville on Sunday, which means Actual can minimize the result in only a level in the event that they beat Elche.
How have Actual Madrid fared in La Liga this season?
The turbulent time that marked the tip of Xabi Alonso’s spell as Actual supervisor appeared to return in latest weeks, with Los Blancos dropping two on the bounce in La Liga for the primary time this season.
With a difficult journey to Celta Vigo following the defeats by Osasuna and Getafe, Actual’s title problem appeared on the road.
A 2-1 win in Vigo, due to targets from Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde, final Friday minimize Barca’s lead on the high to solely some extent, just for the Catalan membership to revive their benefit with a 1-0 win at Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.
Los Blancos had gained 13 of their opening 14 video games in all competitions this season, solely dropping factors within the 5-2 defeat within the Madrid derby at Atletico.
The 2 wins in eight that adopted set the tone for the rest of Alonso’s time in cost, even 5 wins on the bounce thereafter couldn’t save the previous Actual midfielder from the chop, with the tip coming following the Spanish Tremendous Cup closing 3-2 defeat by Barcelona.
Interim head coach, Alvaro Arbeloa, endured a torrid begin – with a humiliating 3-2 defeat at Albacete within the Copa del Rey, however gained the subsequent 5 league video games on the bounce to resume hope of catching Barcelona.
How have Elche fared in La Liga this season?
Elche have been unbeaten of their opening seven video games of the season, all within the league, profitable 4.
A seven-match winless run adopted in La Liga, plunging the Alicante-based membership into the relegation scrap.
Their newest winless run stretches to 11 matches – 10 in La Liga – with seven defeats in that point and solely 4 league factors snared.
Eder Sarabia’s aspect at the moment are only one level and one place above the underside three and are the one aspect within the competitors but to win away from dwelling this season – dropping 9 of their 13 video games on the highway.
Final up for Actual Madrid
Actual’s season was given a great addition in midweek with a powerful 3-0 win in opposition to Manchester Metropolis – led by former Barcelona supervisor Pep Guardiola – within the first leg of their UEFA Champions League round-of-16 tie.
Valverde, who netted the winner final weekend in Vigo, scored a first-half hat-trick handy Los Blancos a big benefit heading to Manchester for the return fixture.
Final up for Elche
Elche have been defeated 2-1 at Villarreal in La Liga final Sunday, in what was their fifth consecutive defeat on their travels.
The final 4 of these got here within the league, whereas the run started with their Copa del Rey exit at Actual Betis.
Leo Petrot had given Elche the lead within the 58th minute, however a double from Chimy Avila turned the sport.
Stat assault – Elche
Elche are but to maintain a clear sheet on their travels within the league this season. Within the 13 video games on the highway, they’ve conceded 26 targets – however, on a extra optimistic notice, they’ve managed to attain in all however two of these video games.
What occurred the final time Actual Madrid performed Elche?
Elche secured a invaluable level in a 2-2 draw within the reverse match in opposition to Actual in La Liga this season.
Aleix Febas and Alvaro Rodriguez twice gave the house aspect the lead, the latter netting within the 84th minute, however Dean Huijsen and Jude Bellingham twice levelled for Los Blancos, earlier than Victor Chust was despatched off for the house aspect in damage time.
What occurred the final time Elche entertained Actual Madrid?
Actual have been 3-0 winners on this fixture in October 2022, with Federico Valverde, Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio netting the targets.
Los Blancos took the reverse fixture 4-0 in February 2023.
When did Elche final beat Actual Madrid?
It has been an extended look forward to Elche to come back away with the spoils on this fixture, with their final win – a 3-1 victory – coming in 1978.
Head-to-head
The groups have met 54 occasions, with Actual profitable 35 of the encounters. Elche have emerged victorious on six events.
All six of Elche’s victories have come at dwelling.
Actual Madrid crew information
Kylian Mbappe’s absence stays Actual’s main frustration, however the French striker heads an extended checklist of absentees.
Ferland Mendy is a serious doubt, having been pressured off within the victory in opposition to Manchester Metropolis on account of damage.
The defender might be part of Mbappe, Eder Militao, Jude Bellingham, Dani Ceballos and Rodrygo on the sidelines
Franco Mastantuono is suspended for the sport, however Alvaro Carreras and David Alaba are each near shaking off calf accidents.
Elche crew information
Hector Fort, who’s on mortgage from Barcelona, is out with a shoulder damage.
Pedro Bigas and John Donald are each damage doubts and face late health assessments.
Predicted Actual Madrid lineup
Courtois; Carvajal, Asencio, Huijsen, F Garcia; Valverde, Camavinga, Tchouameni; Guler; Vinicius, Brahim
Predicted Elche lineup
Dituro; Chust, Affengruber, Petrot; Josan, Febas, Aguado, Valera; Neto; A Silva, Rodriguez
