Numancia vs Elche Predictions

This Sunday’s clash in the Spanish Segunda Division features two sides who have played top flight football in the relatively recent past. Elche were relegated due to financial problems rather than a lack of on-field prowess but now appear to be rebuilding well following a turbulent period off the pitch. However neither they nor Numancia have won yet this season so there is already some pressure building in both camps heading into this one.

Elche slipped into the Segunda B in 2016 and it’s a notoriously difficult league to get out of, given even the league champions in each region are not guaranteed promotion and must negotiate the play-offs. However Elche managed to bounce back to the Segunda at the first attempt with a fine run in the play-offs that saw them win three two-legged ties, with Villarreal II defeated in the final round. They’ve started the new season with two draws and a defeat and are underdogs again here against Numancia.

The hosts will be targeting a win but they also only have two points on the board having been beaten 3-2 at Lugo last time out. Numancia are now into their 10th straight season at this level after they suffered a Play-Off Final defeat to Valladolid at the end of last term. They did only sneak into the play-offs though and 13 regular season defeats suggests they probably weren’t worthy of winning promotion to La Liga.

Their start to this season suggests they may struggle to match last term’s 6th place finish. Marc Mateu provides a bit of quality in midfield and they are a team that creates chances and scores goals but defensively they leave plenty to be desired and have already conceded 3 goals on two occasions this term. They were actually 2-0 up in their last match but still contrived to lose it, so things aren’t going particularly well for their new boss Aritz López Garai.

They don’t really justify their status as such clear favourites here. Elche have already picked up a couple of solid points by holding Granada and Osasuna, two sides who might be expected to challenge for promotion. There is little in this Numancia side that should really fear them and the value here does look to lie with backing the away team to get something out of the game.

Overall backing Elche or Draw Double Chance could be the way to go.