At the Martínez Valero, where Elche are still looking for their first home win of the LaLiga season, the hosts began their eighth-round meeting with Celta Vigo intent on turning their recent recovery into something more lasting. Both clubs had claimed a first league victory before the international break, and Sunday’s 14:00 kick-off brought an early contest of pressure, patience and half-chances.
Early exchanges in Elche
- Celta won the first corner after three minutes, but Ilaix Moriba could not make proper contact with the delivery towards the far post.
- Both sides pressed high during an unsettled opening, with neither able to establish sustained control.
- Gonzalo Villar produced Elche’s first notable effort in the seventh minute, striking from the edge of the area before Celta goalkeeper Ionut Radu gathered at the second attempt.
- Elche then slowed the rhythm, building carefully from their own half while Celta held an organised pressing shape.
- In the 10th minute, right-back Rubén Sánchez won possession high up the pitch, drove inside and sent a left-footed attempt beyond the target.
The score remained 0-0 as the match settled. Elche arrived still in the relegation places but encouraged by their win over Espanyol, while Celta had eased early-season concerns with a convincing victory against Racing and had not lost away from home.
Teams at the Martínez Valero
Martín Anselmi named Matías Dituro as Elche captain behind a back line of Rubén Sánchez, Jorge Cuenca Chust, David Morcillo and Revivo. Aguado, Gonzalo Villar and Thomas Lemar formed the midfield, with Tete Morente, Germán Valera and Fer Niño leading the attack.
Elche’s substitutes were Iturbe, Bigas, Lomónaco, Barzic, Padilla, Neto, Buonanotte, Josan, Diangana, Cepeda, Osorio and Ponce.
Claudio Giráldez selected Radu in goal for Celta, with Álvaro Núñez, Yoel Lago and captain Marcos Alonso in defence. Javi Rueda, Moriba, Aleix Febas and Javi Galán played across midfield, behind Pablo Durán, Hugo Álvarez and Ferran Jutglà.
Celta’s bench included Bayindir, Iván Villar, Faye, Javi Rodríguez, Cáceres, Hugo Burcio, Carreira, Williot, Driouech, Hugo González, Iago Aspas and Borja Iglesias.
Absences and the wider contest
Anselmi was without Yago Santiago and Buba, while Amatucci had been ruled out by a virus and Redondo was suspended. Celta travelled without Starfelt, Antañón, Miguel Román and El-Abdellaoui because of fitness problems.
Before kick-off, Anselmi spoke warmly of the tactical challenge posed by Giráldez’s Celta. He said the visitors force opposing coaches to keep finding answers because they alter their approach without abandoning their footballing identity, adding that he and Giráldez share a similar football sensibility.
The Martínez Valero, with a capacity of roughly 33,700, was expected to draw a strong crowd. Javier Alberola Rojas was appointed referee, with Carlos del Cerro Grande overseeing VAR.
