Football Season Guide

A strong start to 2025/26 had Elche in midtable before a run of 11 league games without a win after the winter break threw them right into the mix of a relegation battle which they only survived on the final day. Coach Martin Anselmi arrives with doubts about whether he is the right man to replace the popular Eder Sarabia. The Argentine has been sacked by Botafogo and Porto in his first year after less than six months at each club, and faces a big ask to replicate the free-flowing football Sarabia got his team playing. That same risk applies across the side. Last season Elche were the league's highest scorers of any side not to qualify for Europe, but experienced loanees Rafa Mir and Andre Silva and young Alvaro Rodriguez, who moved to Bournemouth, scored 25 of those goals. They have been replaced by Fer Niño, who scored seven in Segunda last year, and youngster Umaru Konare Tounkara, who scored four in pre-season but is yet to make his top flight debut. The same goes in midfield, where Aleix Febas, a consistent and reliable performer for years, has been replaced by youngster Javi Morcillo. Their biggest strength lies in that only champions Barcelona lost fewer home games than Elche, who lost twice at the Martinez Valero. Having the backing of their fans, who are unconvinced by the changes this summer, could prove pivotal to any survival attempts. That home record will be put to the test early on, with Barcelona, Real Madrid and Copa del Rey winners Real Sociedad the first three sides to visit.