Real Madrid visit Elche as La Liga begins busy midweek round
Madrid: Former champions Real Madrid visit Elche on Tuesday as La Liga begins the first of the two rounds of matches in a busy week before the international break.
Jose Mourinho is expected to continue rotating his starting lineup, with Aurelien Tchouameni, Marc Cucurella, Arda Guler, Dean Huijsen and Brahim Diaz all in contention to start after Saturday’s 4-1 home win over Rayo Vallecano.
Elche adjusted their usual style to earn a point away to Athletic Club on Saturday, with Martin Anselmi’s side abandoning its high defensive line in favour of a low block. The Argentine coach could adopt a similar approach against Real Madrid to limit the visitor’s threat on the break, reports Xinhua.
There will also be plenty of attention on events in Vitoria, where bottom side Valencia visits Deportivo Alaves in its first match since coach Carlos Corberan was sacked on Sunday.
Valencia confirmed that B-team coach Oscar Sanchez will take temporary charge of the first team, while Braulio Vazquez has been appointed director of sport and tasked with finding a permanent replacement for Corberan.
Alaves missed the chance to move second on Saturday with defeat away to Racing Santander, but former Valencia player and coach Quique Sanchez Flores has in-form forwards Mariano Diaz and Lucas Boye available to test a struggling Valencia defense.
Tuesday’s other match sees Rayo Vallecano host Espanyol. Rayo welcome Fran Perez back from suspension, although Jorge de Frutos must serve the second match of a two-game ban.
Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are both in action on Wednesday, with Barcelona looking for a sixth consecutive win when it hosts Racing Santander.
Atletico host Osasuna as Diego Simeone’s side looks to build momentum ahead of next weekend’s Madrid derby.