Athletic Club and Elche Face Off in Crucial Matchup at San Mamés

omidbasir- Athletic Club and Elche have faced each other five times at San Mamés this century, with each team securing two victories and one draw. This record indicates that Elche has traditionally fared reasonably well during visits to La Catedral. The rojiblancos are eager to solidify their positive momentum with a win, as the Illicitans find themselves in urgent need of points, currently sitting just one place above the relegation zone.

As Athletic prepares to host Elche, the objective is clear: to achieve a third consecutive victory in the domestic league. Despite their recent performances being less than stellar, Athletic managed to overcome Levante and Oviedo, and they are looking to continue adding points to their total while alleviating lingering doubts about their league position.

However, Ernesto Valverde will be without key players for this match. Nico Williams, the international forward, has opted to undergo treatment for pubis issues and will miss the upcoming fixtures. Additionally, Mikel Jauregizar, another crucial player, has been ruled out due to a serious injury, although he has avoided the worst-case scenario.

On a positive note, Dani Vivian returns to the squad after sustaining an injury in late January, having missed six matches across all competitions. His availability is a much-needed boost for Valverde and the squad.

Elche arrives at San Mamés during one of their most challenging stretches of the season. The franjiverde side is currently the only team yet to secure an away victory this season, a situation that has started to weigh heavily on their league standings. Despite a recent poor run of form, the team is hopeful to make a significant impact in a venue known for its intensity. Their last away victory in La Liga occurred three seasons ago in Bilbao, when Lucas Boyé scored the decisive goal, leading to the team’s mathematical relegation.

The matchup between Ruiz de Galarreta and Febas will be pivotal. Both midfielders serve as the driving forces for their respective teams. The rojiblanco has netted one goal and boasts an 84% passing accuracy, while the Illicitans’ playmaker has contributed two goals and maintains an impressive 90.4% success rate in crosses.