Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the La Liga match.
The opening weekend of La Liga didn’t go to plan for the heavyweights, and Atlético Madrid were among those to stumble. A 2:1 defeat away to Espanyol has piled early pressure on Atlético Madrid, who now need to deliver on home turf against a modest Elche side.
Atlético Madrid
Atlético Madrid’s summer transfer business hinted at a shift towards a more expansive style of play, but the trip to Espanyol exposed familiar flaws. They generated a respectable 1.29 xG, with Julián Álvarez’s superb free-kick (just 0.09 xG) their only goal, but defensively they were wide open, conceding 1.42 xGA. Diego Simeone is still searching for the right balance in his line-up, and one week is unlikely to fix the inconsistency.
Elche
For Elche, the return to La Liga began positively with a 1:1 draw at home to Real Betis. They came from behind in the second half, showing resilience, though the underlying numbers (1.60 xGA) underline their defensive vulnerabilities. With limited squad depth and a rigid 4-4-2 system under Sebastián Beccacece, it will be difficult to contain top-level attacking units across 90 minutes.
Atlético Madrid vs Elche Prediction
When the sides met in January’s Copa del Rey, Atlético Madrid cut Elche apart in a 4:0 rout. A repeat scoreline may be ambitious, but the conditions are ripe for another high-scoring affair, with both sides likely to show their frailties as much as their strengths.
