by Eldense receives Real Zaragoza this Monday (8:30 p.m.) at the Nuevo Pepico Amat with the aim of breaking, in the case of the locals, a streak of two months without winning against a rival also in low hours and who has only won one of the last five games he has played.
This Monday’s match is a key duel for the Alicante team’s aspirations to remain in LaLiga Hypermotion and if they win they could be equal on points with the Aragonese since only three separate them in the table, with 26 for Eldense and 29 for Saragossa.
Thus, Eldense has not won since last November 12 when they beat Andorra at home (1-3), while the previous victory of the Alicante team at the Nuevo Pepico Amat dates back to last November 5, 2023 when they beat the Burgos (2-0). Since then they have not won at home again.
In this sense, Fernando Estévez, coach of Eldense, is clear that “we have to improve the numbers at home because the little we improve will help us achieve the goal of permanence” to remember that “Zaragoza is a very good rival a domicile. He is one of the best visitors in the category.”
For this match with Zaragoza, Fernando Estévez will be able to count on the new additions, the defender Nacho Monsalve and the forward Mo Dauda, after arriving with the competition rhythm of his previous teams and recovering the winger Álex Martínez after nine months out due to injury.
For his part, Florín Andone suffered a sprained knee that will keep him out until February, so he will not be in the squad, as will Youness Lachhab, a midfielder who is still in the final stages of his injury.
Real Zaragoza hopes to take flight with its debut in the new year and the first opportunity comes in the visit to Elda, where it will try to improve the figures it has had since Julio Velázquez debuted as coach.
With the coach from Salamanca, who replaced Fran Escribá at the end of November, the team has not managed to reach the level expected since in five games played it has achieved a single victory, against Leganés, three draws (Espanyol, Amorebieta and Levante ) and has suffered a defeat against Albacete.
The skilled team, which is fourteenth with 28 points, five away from the Promotion Promotion spots, hopes that it can begin to make a comeback in the standings but to do so it will have to improve its records and that can only be achieved by linking victories because draws can be a complement but always with triumphs, which are what help to make leaps in the table.
He will attend the meeting with the Alicante team with only one winter reinforcement, that of goalkeeper Edgar Badía, on loan from Elche, and who could already make his debut against the Elda team.
The Maño team faces this first match of the year 2024 with the absences due to injury of Carlos Nieto, Germán Valera, Sinan Bakis and goalkeeper Cristian Álvarez. Despite the Christmas break, only Iván Azón has recovered, able to play after overcoming an injury that occurred in mid-November, and Quentin Lecoeuche, both of whom can play as starters.
It is likely that Velázquez will continue betting on a three-center system against Eldense and the big question will be who would occupy the left wing, although Lecoeuche’s earlier-than-expected recovery could return him to the starting position.
Probable lineups
Eldense: Álvaro Acebes, Toni Abad, Carlos Hernández, Nacho Monsalve, Marc Mateu, David Timor, Sergio Ortuño, Clemente, Iván Chapela, Mario Soberón and Mo Dauda.
Real Zaragoza: Badía; Fran Gámez, Francés, Mouriño, Jair, Lecoeuche; Francho, Marc Aguado, Toni Moyá; Maikel Mesa and Iván Azón or Mollejo.
Referee: Miguel González Díaz (Asturian committee).
Stadium: Nuevo Pepico Amat.
Time: 8:30 p.m.
