Atletico Madrid will be aiming to, mathematically at least, keep their La Liga title hopes alive when they travel to already-relegated Elche on Sunday afternoon.
Diego Simeone's side are second in the table, 13 points behind leaders Barcelona with five games left, while Elche have been comfortably relegated to the Segunda Division for next season, sitting rock bottom of the division on 16 points.
Match preview
© Reuters
There is no getting away from the fact that it has been a desperately disappointing campaign for Elche, who will already be planning for next term despite having five games left of the current season.
Los Franjiverdes have simply not managed to get going in 2022-23, winning only three of their 33 league games, and a total of 16 points has left them at the foot of the division.
Elche have actually played the last three seasons in La Liga, and they will be dropping down to the second tier for the first time since 2019-20, which ended in promotion to the top flight via the playoffs.
Los Ilicitanos recorded a 4-0 win over Rayo Vallecano at the end of April to give themselves some hope, but their relegation was confirmed following the 2-1 defeat to Almeria at the start of this month.
Sebastian Beccacece's side only have pride to play for in the latter stages of the season, but they will want to end a poor campaign on a positive note, and three of their final five fixtures are at home, taking on Atletico, Sevilla and Cadiz in front of their own supporters, in addition to visiting Getafe and Athletic Bilbao.
© Reuters
Atletico can, mathematically, keep their title hopes alive with a win here, but it would surely be delaying the inevitable, with Barcelona having the chance to secure the trophy by beating Espanyol on Sunday.
Even if Atletico win here and Barcelona slip up, it is still incredibly difficult to imagine a scenario where Xavi's side throw the title away, and Simeone's team will mainly have their eyes on finishing above Real Madrid.
The Red and Whites are currently second in the table, one point clear of third-placed Real Madrid, although the reigning champions will have the chance to move above their capital rivals when they host Getafe on Saturday.
Atletico's failure to progress to the knockout round of any European competition this season was a huge disappointment, but their league form in 2023 has been excellent, and they will enter this game off the back of three straight wins over Mallorca, Real Valladolid and Cadiz, scoring 13 times in the process.
The signs are positive ahead of the 2023-24 campaign, although Simeone's long-term future at the club is unclear, with the 53-year-old thought to be considering leaving Wanda Metropolitano at the end of the season.
Team News
© Reuters
Elche will be without the services of Pedro Bigas and Helibelton Palacios on Sunday through injury, while Omar Mascarell and Jose Angel Carmona remain fitness doubts.
Head coach Beccacece is expected to make changes to the side that took to the field for the first whistle against Almeria, with Alex Collado, Ezequiel Ponce and Randy Nteka potentially coming into the XI.
The majority of Elche's squad are likely to receive opportunities to impress in the closing stages of the campaign, as the management decide which players to keep for their 2023-24 Segunda Division season.
Atletico, meanwhile, will again be missing Memphis Depay, Marcos Llorente, Stefan Savic and Reinildo through injury, while Mario Hermoso and Jan Oblak remain major doubts.
Antoine Griezmann scored a brace against Cadiz last time out and is again set to feature alongside Alvaro Morata in the final third of the field this weekend.
Should Hermoso pass a late fitness test, Simeone could name the same XI that took to the field for the first whistle against Cadiz, with Thomas Lemar, Koke and Rodrigo De Paul featuring in midfield.
Elche possible starting lineup:
Werner; Josan, Magallan, Clerc, Blanco; Morente, Fidel, Collado, Milla; Ponce, Nteka
Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:
Grbic; Molina, Witsel, Gimenez, Hermoso, Carrasco; De Paul, Koke, Lemar; Griezmann, Morata
We say: Elche 0-3 Atletico Madrid
Atletico have arguably been the best La Liga team since the turn of the year, and they will be looking to finish the season strongly with a view to claiming second. Elche are now playing under no pressure, which should help them, but we are struggling to predict anything other than a comfortable away success here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Matt Law
