Elche and Villarreal Gear Up for Exciting Valencia Derby in 2026

As the new year begins, the anticipation builds for the first Valencia derby of 2026. Elche aims to continue captivating fans with their play against Villarreal, who are eager to demonstrate their usual competitive spirit in LaLiga following a setback against Barcelona.

Coach Sarabia faces the challenge of securing a victory in the first match of the calendar year, both in LaLiga and the Copa del Rey, a feat that Elche has managed only once in the past decade. The stage is set for what promises to be the most exciting derby in the Valencian Community, as the standings leave no room for doubt.

Elche kicks off January with a determination to extend their current unbeaten streak at Martínez Valero, where they have recently achieved impressive wins against Girona (3-0) and Rayo Vallecano (4-0). At this juncture, this newly promoted team has already acquired over half of the points required for survival and aims to take another step toward that goal against Villarreal, all while maintaining aspirations for even greater heights. However, Sarabia will be without key offensive player Héctor Fort due to injury.

Meanwhile, Villarreal heads to Elche with the intent of regaining the positive form they enjoyed prior to the decline experienced in December. The team travels with several injuries and has included as many as five youth players to round out the squad, while new signing Thiago Fernández has yet to be included. Coach Marcelino emphasizes the necessity of rediscovering efficiency in both attack and defense, which previously allowed them to remain among the league’s elite. For this, it is crucial that players like Foyth and Mikautadze return to their best form.

After a period of adjustment, it’s time for players to step up. Álvaro Rodríguez recently delivered his best performance with Elche, impressively contributing a goal and two assists against Rayo. Conversely, Mikautadze has scored three goals but has not been exhibiting his best form lately. For Villarreal, finding their optimal performance in LaLiga is essential.