In an exciting La Liga clash on Saturday, Valencia will host Elche at Mestalla, as both teams seek to recover from recent defeats. Valencia currently languishes in 18th place in the league, having amassed just 16 points from their first 18 matches. Their recent performance includes a heavy 4-1 loss to Celta Vigo, exacerbating the urgency for a turnaround in their fortunes.
With a record of three wins, seven draws, and eight losses, Valencia trails 17th-placed Girona by two points. Despite being historically strong, finishing 12th last season indicated a need for substantial improvement. Fortunately for Los Che, their home form this season has been more encouraging, with 13 points earned at Mestalla from nine matches, indicating their ability to perform in familiar surroundings, which may be crucial as they fight to avoid relegation.
In terms of head-to-head statistics, Valencia has the upper hand against Elche, boasting 27 wins, 17 losses, and 12 draws in their 56 encounters. In their most recent matchup during the latter half of the 2022-23 season, Valencia secured a 2-0 victory. Nevertheless, Elche has shown resilience, having last defeated Valencia in October 2020. They managed a 2-2 draw during their last visit to Mestalla.
Elche, now competing after their promotion from the Segunda Division, sits comfortably in ninth place with 22 points this season. Despite a recent setback, losing 3-1 to Villarreal to open 2026, they have won four of their last five matches of 2025 and only lost six times this season. However, their away form raises concerns as they have yet to secure a victory, managing three draws and five losses on the road.
In terms of player availability, Valencia will miss Mouctar Diakhaby and Julen Agirrezabala due to injuries, while Thierry Correia’s fitness remains uncertain. Hugo Duro is suspended after receiving a yellow card in the previous match. Lucas Beltran is anticipated to lead the frontline alongside Andre Almeida.
On the Elche side, they will be without defender Hector Fort due to injury and Rafa Mir, who is expected to be sidelined for the rest of the month. Nonetheless, Federico Redondo will return from suspension, and Andre Silva is also likely to feature following a minor injury.
Both teams may strive for defensive solidity, leading to a prediction of a tightly contested match, potentially ending in a 1-1 draw as Elche seeks their first away win of the season against a more resilient Valencia side. This matchup promises to be significant for both teams as they navigate through the demanding challenges of La Liga.