This Saturday, Elche and Alavés square off at the Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero in a crucial La Liga Matchweek 35 clash, with kickoff set for 13:00 live on Premier Sports. Both teams are separated by just two points in the standings, making this a high-stakes encounter for very different reasons.
Elche currently sit 14th with 38 points, enjoying a relatively comfortable mid-table position. However, they’ll be eager to bounce back after a tough 3-1 loss to Celta de Vigo in their last outing. Manager Eder Sarabia will be looking to his squad to rediscover their form, especially at home where they’ve been impressively resilient—suffering just two defeats in their last 17 matches on home soil.
On the other side, Alavés find themselves in 18th place with 36 points, firmly in the relegation battle. Quique Flores’s men are coming off a disappointing 4-2 defeat to Athletic Bilbao, and the pressure is mounting. Their away form has been a concern, with only one win in their last six road trips. On a positive note, they’ve managed to score in four consecutive away games—but they’ve also conceded in ten straight on the road, highlighting defensive fragilities that Elche will look to exploit.
The head-to-head history favors Alavés, who won the last meeting 3-1. Flores himself has a solid record against Elche, with one win and one loss in two encounters, while Sarabia has struggled against Alavés, managing just one draw and two defeats in three meetings.
Both teams will field strong lineups. Elche are expected to start with Matías Dituro in goal, supported by John Chetauya, David Affengruber, and Pedro Bigas in defense, while the attacking burden falls on Álvaro Rodríguez and André Silva. Alavés will rely on Antonio Sivera between the posts, with Jonny Otto and Nahuel Tenaglia anchoring the backline, and Toni Martínez leading the line alongside Ibrahim Diabaté.
With Elche’s home fortress reputation and Alavés’s desperate need for points, this promises to be a tense, hard-fought battle. For fans heading to the stadium or watching from home, expect drama, intensity, and perhaps a few surprises as both sides fight for their respective goals.