Real Madrid visit Elche seeking to maintain their unbeaten start to La Liga. Carlo Ancelotti still hasn’t lost an official game since he arrived to Madrid and the recently promoted team should be an easy rival to extend his record.
Los Blancos sit third in the league with four wins and one draw from five matches. Dropping more points in Elche would allow Barcelona and Atletico Madrid increase their lead, as they both won their sixth consecutive La Liga game yesterday.
Ancelotti will recover Raphael Varane, Fabio Coentrao and Iker Casillas, who return from their respective injuries. Gareth Bale, Xabi Alonso and Marcelo are still in the infirmary and won’t make Los Merengues first trip to Elche in 24 years.
Luka Modric could return to the starting eleven after being rested against Getafe. The doubt is whether he will replace Isco as the playmaker or he will play as centre-half. In that case, Asier Illarramendi or Sami Khedira would sit on the bench.
Elche have the only concerns of Cristian Sapunaru and Sergio Pelegrin, who are not completely recovered from their injuries.
Fran Escriba’s men have failed to win any of their first five matches in the league, and they sit 16th in the table with three points. Getting some points against Los Blancos would be a huge success for them.
As a matter of fact, Elche have kept just one clean sheet this term, while Real have scored ten goals in their last two games.
Possible line-ups:
Elche: Herrera; Albacar, Botia, Lomban, Suarez, Fidel; Perez, Marquez, Sanchez, Richmond; Boakye, Coro.
Real Madrid: Diego Lopez; Arbeloa, Ramos, Pepe, Carvajal; Modric, Khedira; Ronaldo, Isco, Di Maria; Benzema.
