Elche Team News Page 6 - Soccer

Arbeloa confident Mbappe will be back for Madrid's Champions League second leg Kylian Mbappe has been out of action in recent matches due to injury, but while he is closing in on a return, the Elche game comes too soon.

MARCH 13 • BEINSPORTS.COM

Álvaro Arbeloa: "Courtois is the best goalkeeper in Real Madrid's history" He spoke before the game against Elche

MARCH 13 • MANAGINGMADRID.COM

Madrid comes down from Valverde's Champions League hat trick to return to La Liga slog

Real Madrid is flying high after Federico Valverde scored a hat trick to fuel a 3-0 win over Manchester City in the Champions League

MARCH 12 • Associated Press

Alvaro Rodriguez - Five shots in away loss Alvaro Rodriguez registered five shots (one on goal) and one chance created in Sunday's 2-1 defeat versus Villarreal.

Impact Alvaro Rodriguez took five shots but was unable to score against Villarreal. He has scored five goals this season, but hasn't scored in any of the last five games that he has played in. He put a shot on target for the sixth time in the last eight games that he has played. This was also the fourth time this season that he has taken five or more shots.

MARCH 9 • ROTOWIRE

Josan - Eight crosses in 22 minutes Josan had eight crosses (one accurate) and three corners in Sunday's 2-1 loss versus Villarreal.

Impact Josan came from the bench and attempted eight crosses, including three corners, as Elche lost away to Villarreal. He is Elche's joint-second highest set-piece taker, with seven of his 10 corners coming in his last four matches played. This was the third time this season that he had attempted eight or more crosses.

MARCH 9 • ROTOWIRE

Martim Neto - Assists consolation in 2-1 loss Neto assisted once to go with three crosses (two accurate) and one corner in Sunday's 2-1 loss versus Villarreal. In addition, he was given a yellow card in the 74th minute.

Impact Neto assisted Andre Silva as a substitute to produce his fifth assist of the season. He has only started one of the last six Elche games. He provided an assist with his only created chance. He also completed two of his three crosses; the third time this season, he has completed two crosses.

MARCH 9 • ROTOWIRE

Andre Silva - Scores consolation as a sub Silva scored one goal to go with two shots (two on goal) in Sunday's 2-1 defeat against Villarreal. In addition, he was given a yellow card in the 96th minute.

Impact Silva scored his seventh goal of the season and his third in the last five games. Having started the last five games, he returned to the bench. He was able to score in the 13 minutes that he had. He put two shots on target, his fourth time in the last five games that he has played in. This was the sixth game this season that he had put two shots on target, and his first time doing this when he was a sub.

MARCH 9 • ROTOWIRE

Matias Dituro - Five saves in away defeat Dituro made five saves and allowed two goals in Sunday's 2-1 loss to Villarreal.

Impact Dituro made five saves in his 11th start of the season, but has conceded in each of the last three games that he has played. He has, however, made five or more in two of those three games. In his 11 games he has kept two clean sheets with one coming four matches ago.

MARCH 9 • ROTOWIRE

Villarreal beats Elche to stay level on points with 3rd-place Atletico in Spain as Getafe wins again

Villarreal has beaten struggling Elche 2-1 to stay level on points with third-place Atletico Madrid in La Liga

MARCH 8 • Associated Press

Yago de Santiago Alonso - No longer banned Santiago has served his suspension and is an option again.

Impact Santiago has returned from his two-game ban and will return to action next contest. He is unlikely to see much time in a starting role as he remains more of a depth option, with zero goal contributions in eight appearances (three starts) this season.

MARCH 8 • ROTOWIRE

Pedro Bigas - Available on Sunday Bigas (undisclosed) is a bench option for Sunday's clash with Villarreal.

Impact Bigas overcame a minor physical problem but will begin on the bench after starting in the previous three fixtures. Instead, Leo Petroc is getting the nod. Bigas has notched multiple clearances in his last five appearances, amassing 21, contributing to two clean sheets and botching five interceptions and four blocks through that stretch.

MARCH 8 • ROTOWIRE

Pedro Bigas - Late call against Villarreal Bigas (undisclosed) is a late call for Sunday's clash against Villarreal, according to coach Eder Sarabia. "Pedro we will see after the final training session."

Impact Bigas wasn't able to train fully this week because of a muscular issue and will be a late fitness call following the final training session Saturday. The club will be hoping he gets the green light, as he is an undisputed starter in the Franjiverdes' back-three. If he ends up missing time, a change in the starting XI would be required, with Leo Petrot emerging as a potential replacement.

MARCH 6 • ROTOWIRE

Pedro Bigas - Not training Wednesday Bigas (undisclosed) wasn't spotted in team training Wednesday following his exit at halftime during Sunday's 2-2 draw against Espanyol due to discomfort, according to Jorge Adsuar...

Impact Bigas has yet to return to team training this week while dealing with the muscular issue that forced him off at halftime in Sunday's draw against Espanyol. The center-back will be evaluated over the next few days to determine whether he can make the squad for Sunday's clash against Villarreal. If he ends up missing the matchup it would be a tough blow for the Franjiverdes given his regular starting role in the back line, with Leo Petrot the most likely candidate to step in and fill the spot.

MARCH 4 • ROTOWIRE

Marc Aguado - Nets first of season Aguado scored one goal to go with one shot (one on goal) in Sunday's 2-2 draw versus Espanyol.

Impact Aguado recorded his first goal of the season to help take the point on Sunday vs Espanyol. This will add on to his one assist, having collected 33 key passes, 22 tackles won and 16 blocked shots in 25 La Liga appearances for Elche.

MARCH 2 • ROTOWIRE

Rafa Mir - Scores Sunday Mir scored one goal to go with five shots (four on goal) and one cross (zero accurate) in Sunday's 2-2 draw versus Espanyol. In addition, he was given a yellow card in the 98th min...

Impact Mir netted his first goal since his return from injury to go along with his four shots on target Sunday. He also made his first start since returning, clocking in just 125 minutes of play in the last three appearances.

MARCH 2 • ROTOWIRE

Matias Dituro - Records two saves Dituro recorded two saves and allowed two goals in Sunday's 2-2 draw against Espanyol.

Impact Dituro allowed two goals while making two saves during the draw to Espanyol on Sunday. He's made a third start in a row over first string keeper Inaki Pena, conceding four goals while making nine saves and keeping a clean sheet in that span. The keeper will be the front runner to make the start vs Villarreal on Sunday, who have scored nine goals in the last five appearances.

MARCH 2 • ROTOWIRE

Referee activates anti-racism protocol in Spanish league game between Espanyol and Elche

Espanyol and Elche drew 2-2 in a Spanish league match briefly interrupted toward the end after the referee activated the anti-racism protocol

MARCH 1 • Associated Press

Espanyol's El Hilali activates antiracism protocol in LaLiga after alleged insult from Elche's Rafa Mir During the match between Elche and Espanyol, Omar El Hilali triggered LaLiga's anti-racism protocol following an alleged racial insult from...

MARCH 1 • BOLAVIP.COM

Grady Diangana - Available against Espanyol Diangana (undisclosed) is back available for Sunday's clash against Espanyol, coach Eder Sarabia said in the press conference. "Everyone is fit except Hector."

Impact Diangana has bounced back from the injury that kept him out the last two games and is officially available for Sunday's showdown against Espanyol. The attacking midfielder has logged full training sessions all week and looks primed to step right back into his usual starting role against the Catalan side.

FEBRUARY 27 • ROTOWIRE

Yago de Santiago Alonso - Receives two-game ban Santiago will be suspended two games due to the straight red he received in Friday's clash against Athletic Club, according to Pasion Franjiverde.

Impact Santiago crossed the line with inappropriate comments directed at the referees during Friday's clash against Athletic Club and has been handed a two-game suspension as a result. The midfielder will now sit out matchups against Espanyol and Villarreal, but his absence shouldn't shake up the starting XI since he's mostly been deployed as a bench option in recent weeks.

FEBRUARY 26 • ROTOWIRE

Grady Diangana - Trains with team Tuesday Diangana (undisclosed) was back in team training Tuesday, according to Jorge Adsuar from Pasion Franjiverde.

Impact Diangana missed the last two matches with an undisclosed injury, but he was back out on the training ground Tuesday, a strong sign he's moved past the issue and is trending toward a return for Sunday's clash against Espanyol. That would be a major boost for the Franjiverdes, as he had cemented himself as a regular starter before the setback. If he's cleared to go, expect him to slide right back into a similar role and regain his usual spot in the middle of the park.

FEBRUARY 24 • ROTOWIRE

Pedro Bigas - Logs nine clearances in loss Bigas made one tackle, nine clearances and two blocks and was shown a yellow card during Friday's 2-1 loss against Athletic Bilbao.

Impact Bigas was one of his side's few positives from a fantasy standpoint, almost logging double-digit clearances and limiting an Athletic offense who just got their second goal due to a late penalty. That's now 16 clearances and four blocks over the last two starts for the center-back, a very positive sign after his struggles over the last two months.

FEBRUARY 23 • ROTOWIRE

Matias Dituro - Allows two in loss Dituro made six saves and allowed two goals during Friday's 2-1 loss against Athletic Bilbao.

Impact Dituro made back-to-back starts for the first time since September and couldn't do much to prevent either goal allowed. However, the goalkeeper was still one of his team's most productive players as his saves made the final score suggest a much closer contest than it actually was. Dituro will hope this performance helps him to keep getting the nod over Inaki Pena for upcoming matches and Mar. 1 clash against Espanyol could bring enough challengers for him to showcase his shot-stopping skills again.

FEBRUARY 23 • ROTOWIRE

Andre Silva - Converts PK in loss Silva scored a penalty goal during Friday's 2-1 loss against Athletic Bilbao.

Impact Silva was mostly dominated by opposing defenders but was efficient on the lone chance he had in the game, converting a penalty to draw things level at 1-1 in the 69th minute. After enduring a nine-game scoreless streak, the striker has now two goals over his last three starts and will hope this is the start of better things to come.

FEBRUARY 23 • ROTOWIRE

Yago de Santiago Alonso - Receives red card Santiago received a red card following Friday's 2-1 defeat against Athletic Club after directing inappropriate comments toward the referees, according to Pasion Franjiverde.

Impact Santiago is set to miss at least one match after seeing red in Friday's 2-1 loss to Athletic Club, having directed inappropriate comments toward the referees in the aftermath of a controversial penalty decision. That said, the midfielder has mostly been limited to a bench role for Elche in recent weeks, so his suspension, even if it stretches beyond one game, should not shake up the starting XI.

FEBRUARY 20 • ROTOWIRE

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Madrid comes down from Valverde's Champions League hat trick to return to La Liga slog

Villarreal beats Elche to stay level on points with 3rd-place Atletico in Spain as Getafe wins again

Referee activates anti-racism protocol in Spanish league game between Espanyol and Elche