LOOKING TO MOVE CLEAR IN THE RACE FOR THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE AGAINST ELCHE AT THE MARTÍNEZ VALERO

It's time for another LaLiga match, and there is no time for the team to lick their wounds after the cup exit. This weekend, it is Matchday 26 (one less for Sevilla FC), and the Nervionenses face a trip to Elche CF this Saturday afternoon. Less than 72 hours after the full-time whistle after the Camp Nou, Julen Lopetegui's side are looking to get back to winning ways in the league after last weekend's Matchday 25 defeat against FC Barcelona. A win would be crucial in the race to qualify for next season's UEFA Champions League, a key objective for the Blanquirrojos. 

The Nervionenses are going into today's game at Elche in fourth place in the table, with 48 points from 24 matches. The game in hand is, in fact, against Elche in just eleven days' time, as the Matchday 2 fixture between the two sides was postponed. A win today would bring up a fourth consecutive away win in the league, after picking up three points at Deportivo Alavés, SD Eibar and CA Osasuna. This would be a first-ever for the club. The Blanquirrojos have won their last three league matches against Elche CF, but they have never won four top-flight matches on the spin against Los Ilicitanos. 

The team are looking for a fourth straight away win in the league

As for the hosts, Elche CF, they are in nineteenth place in the league table, with 21 points from 24 matches. They have lost their last two matches in LaLiga, against FC Barcelona and Granada CF last week. Before that, they picked up three points against SD Eibar in Fran Escribá's first game in charge, after Jorge Almirón stepped down. The manager from Valencia will be unable to call on Rigoni today, as the midfielder is injured. 

Julen Lopetegui also has selection issues. Bono is still out after missing the cup match on Wednesday night, while Aleix Vidal is also unavailable after going off injured during the encounter at the Camp Nou. Koundé also misses out, with the manager stating in yesterday's pre-match press conference that "he made a great effort in Barcelona and has a knock". Lopetegui also spoke about an Elche CF side that "have been improving and are in a positive moment", as well as commenting that his team must "adapt quickly to find the right answers tomorrow". 

Today's match at the Estadio Martínez Valero will kick off at 16:15 CET and will be referred by Pizarro Gómez from Madrid. González Fuertes is on VAR duty.