Elche vs Barcelona prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2023-03-31 19:00.
Rock-bottom of La Liga (LL) and 14 points adrift of safety ahead of the league’s resumption, Elche wielded the axe on Pablo MachĂn during the international break, appointing Sebastián Beccacece as their fourth manager of the campaign. While this remains his first experience in Spain, the 42-year-old Argentine believes “adaptation isn’t going to be a problem” as he aims to become the club’s seventh manager to win his first top-flight game in charge.
The prospects of securing that feat against runaway league leaders Barcelona appear slim, as do Elche’s chances of beating the drop despite having picked up four points from their last three league games (W1, D1, L1), just one fewer than what they accumulated from 12 games prior. With a new-found confidence, and considering 26% of Elche’s league goals have arrived within the first 15 minutes, the hosts will likely try to catch out Barça early.
Amid ongoing financial issues, Barcelona went into the break with a 2-1 win over El Clásico rivals Real Madrid, opening up a 12-point lead atop of LL with 12 games remaining. While the Catalan giants are taking steps to add another trophy to their cabinet on the pitch, they’re also laying claim off it too, pleading with the Spanish Football Federation to be awarded the 1937 league title which at the time took place unofficially due to the Spanish civil war.
Back to present times, and Barça haven’t lost a top-flight H2H against Elche since December 1974, including seven straight wins. It’s hard to see that record not extending here for a Barça side who have won 11 of their last 13 away league games, but those wins have been closely fought contests, with six coming by a 1-0 scoreline, which was coincidentally the same score as in their last league defeat to Elche nearly 50 years ago!
Players to watch: New Elche boss Sebastián Beccacece could be hoping for a scoring performance from his fellow Argentine Ezequiel Ponce, whose last two scoring appearances in the league ended in 1-1 draws. For Barcelona, Robert Lewandowski scored a brace in the reverse fixture and is hoping to halt a five-game scoring drought for club and country.
Hot stat: There has been at least one red card in 11 of Elche’s last 26 LL matches, including the reverse fixture.