Real Madrid vs Elche - La Liga: TV channel, team news, lineups & prediction
By Chris Smith
Real Madrid will look to close the gap on Barcelona in the La Liga title race when they host Elche on Wednesday evening.
Los Blancos currently trail their arch-rivals by 11 points following Barca's 1-0 win over Villarreal on Sunday, but have played one game less after going away on FIFA Club World Cup duty.
Up next is an Elche side who themselves didn't play at the weekend but beat Villarreal 3-1 in their last match - incredibly their first La Liga victory of the season. However, with 20 games gone and just nine points on the board, it's looking increasingly grim for the side from Alicante.
Here's everything you need to know about the match:
Where are Real Madrid vs Elche playing?
- Location: Madrid, Spain
- Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
- Date: Wednesday, 15 February
- Kick-off Time: 20:00 GMT / 15:00 EST / 12:00 PST
- Referee: Ricardo De Burgos
Mallorca vs Real Madrid H2H Results (Last Five Games)
- Real Madrid: 4 wins
- Elche: 0 wins
- Draws: 1
Current Form (Last Five Games)
- Real Madrid: WWLWD
- Elche: WLDDL
How to watch Real Madrid vs Elche on TV and live stream
Country | Television Channel/Live Stream |
|---|---|
United Kingdom | La Liga TV |
United States | ESPN+ |
Canada | TSN5 |
Real Madrid team news
Thibaut Courtois missed the Club World Cup with a minor injury but is good to return here, meaning Andriy Lunin will return to the bench.
Vinicius Junior picked up his fifth yellow card of the season against Mallorca and is now suspended, leaving a big hole in Carlo Ancelotti's attacking plans. Lucas Vazquez, Ferland Mendy and Eden Hazard are all injured.
Real Madrid predicted lineup vs Elche
Real Madrid starting 11 (4-3-3): Courtois; Carvajal, Rudiger, Alaba, Camavinga; Modric, Tchouameni, Kroos; Valverde, Benzema, Rodrygo.
Elche team news
Pere Milla looks set to miss a huge chunk of games for Elche after undergoing clavicle surgery. He'll be a huge miss following his hat-trick in the 3-1 win over Villarreal last time out.
John Nwankwo, Alex Collado and Tete Morentefor are also absent for the trip to Madrid, while Omar Mascarell and Helibelton Palacios are suspended.
Elche predicted lineup vs Real Madrid
Elche starting 11 (3-4-3): Badia; Gonzalez, Roco, Magallan; Carmona, Guti, Gumbau, Clerc; Ponce, Boye, Fidel.
Real Madrid vs Elche score prediction
If Real Madrid are to stand any chance of catching Barcelona, they simply must be perfect from here until the end of the season.
They'll feel rather confident about taking three points off Barca's lead against an Elche side with just nine points from 20 games so far this season.
Madrid's task will be made a little harder considering five of those nine points have come in Elche's last four games, beating Villarreal and drawing with both Osasuna and Cadiz, with a defeat to Sevilla in between.
Even so, on home soil, this game is only going one way.
Prediction: Real Madrid 3-0 Elche