Elche and Alavas don ready for crucial relegation battle for La Liga. Di match wey go happun for Estadio Martinez Valero go decide who go survive for Spanish top flight. Elche dey 14th with 38 points, only two points clear of di relegation zone. Alavas dey 18th, one point behind Sevilla wey dey 17th.
Elche don collect 31 points from 17 home matches, wey be di sixth-best home record for di league. But dem lose last match 3-1 to Celta Vigo, wey break dia three-game winning streak. Alavas on di other hand don struggle for away matches, winning only three from 17. Dem lose 4-2 to Athletic Bilbao last time out.
For di first half of dis match, both sides don show plenty action. Elche get chances, but Alavas defence hold strong. Álvaro Rodríguez almost score for Elche, but im header miss target. Antonio Sivera for Alavas make good save to deny Rodríguez from close range.
Alavas get dia own chances too. Victor Parada shoot from outside di box, but im effort fly high and wide. Toni Martínez also get shot blocked. Di match dey tight, with both teams fighting for every ball. Yellow cards don fly: Jonny, Antonio Blanco, and Pablo Ibáñez all collect caution.
Injury news dey important for dis game. Elche welcome back Germán Valera after suspension, but Yago Santiago out injured. Rafa Mir dey doubtful. For Alavas, Lucas Boye don finish season with hamstring injury, and Carles Alena suspend after yellow card accumulation.
André Silva score for Elche last match and go lead di attack with Álvaro Rodríguez. For Alavas, Ibrahim Diabate go play centre-forward, and Toni Martínez wey score six goals for last six matches go also start. Di match dey critical for both teams as di season dey enter final straight.
Elche go face Real Betis, Getafe, and Girona after dis match. Alavas still get chance to survive if dem pick points. Di reverse fixture wey Alavas win 3-1 earlier dis season show say dem fit beat Elche. But Elche home record strong, so anything fit happen.
Goals dey expected for dis match. Elche don score 45 goals dis season, with 28 for home. Alavas score 40 goals, with 17 for away. Both teams defensive records no too good: Elche keep only two clean sheets for last 17 matches, Alavas keep only three clean sheets all season. Di match fit end with goals from both sides.
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor @ nnn.ng
