Previews
SAT 01.02.2014
Elche and Almería take each other on in matchday 22 of the Liga BBVA as direct rivals in their respective bids to avoid relegation, and will be looking for all three points to move further away from the drop zone.
Ahead of such an important clash, the Alicante side has a full squad of players to choose from, now that Javi Márquez and Cristian Herrera are back after missing the last matchday due to injury. Fran Escribá, well aware of what is at stake in this game against a direct opponent, assured: "The match against Almería is massively important. It’s a final, and we need all the supporters to be behind us".
Almería will also be looking to make the most of the opportunity to gain some breathing room with all three points. However, the away side knows well that Elche is a tough proposition. That’s how Francisco Rodríguez described it during his pre-match press conference. The visiting coach expects a "very difficult match. They have a very balanced side, with experience, hunger and a good work ethic".