Sofia Quijada
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Elche CF host Real Madrid in the Spanish La Liga on Tuesday 15 September 2026, and both sides arrive with predicted line-ups that look more settled than shaky. Elche’s projected XI has started nine of eleven regular spots in their last match, while Real Madrid’s expected XI shows a similar pattern with eight of eleven doing the same. That consistency in recent selection is the clearest guide we have to how each manager is likely to set up before any official team news lands.
Predicted Elche CF Line-up
Elche CF are projected in a 3-4-3, which lines up with Martín Anselmi’s preferred formation and gives an early hint at how he wants his side shaped. The projection is largely settled, with 9 of the projected XI starting their last match, suggesting Anselmi has found a group he trusts for now. Matías Dituro stands out as an ever-present pick between the posts, having started all five matches used in this projection, while José Antonio Ferrández Pomares is the opposite case, included here despite not having started any of the matches used, which is a reminder that the forward slot is far less certain than the rest of the XI.
Elche CF predicted XI: Matías Dituro; Buba Sangaré, Germán Valera, Víctor Chust; Gonzalo Villar, Facundo Buonanotte, Tete Morente, Javier Morcillo Rodrigálvarez; Fernando Niño Rodríguez, Ezequiel Ponce, José Antonio Ferrández Pomares
| Line | # | Player | Starts in last 5 | Last 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 1 | Matías Dituro | 5/5 | 3/3 |
| D | 2 | Buba Sangaré | 5/5 | 3/3 |
| D | 11 | Germán Valera | 5/5 | 3/3 |
| D | 23 | Víctor Chust | 5/5 | 3/3 |
| M | 12 | Gonzalo Villar | 5/5 | 3/3 |
| M | 10 | Facundo Buonanotte | 3/5 | 3/3 |
| M | 20 | Tete Morente | 3/5 | 2/3 |
| M | 47 | Javier Morcillo Rodrigálvarez | 2/5 | 2/3 |
| F | 14 | Fernando Niño Rodríguez | 5/5 | 3/3 |
| F | 9 | Ezequiel Ponce | 1/5 | 1/3 |
| F | 17 | José Antonio Ferrández Pomares | 0/5 | 0/3 |
Real Madrid Predicted XI
Real Madrid’s expected XI comes in a 4-2-3-1, matching José Mourinho’s own preferred setup. It, too, looks largely settled, with 8 of the projected XI starting their last match, even if a couple of changes further back are worth watching. Thibaut Courtois is the clearest fixture in the side, having started all six matches used here, whereas Trent Alexander-Arnold sits at the other end of the scale with only two starts in the same span and did not feature in the last match, making his inclusion the least certain part of this projected line-up.
Real Madrid predicted XI: Thibaut Courtois; Ibrahima Konaté, Denzel Dumfries, Dean Huijsen, Marc Cucurella; Jude Bellingham, Vinícius, Federico Valverde, Bernardo Silva, Trent Alexander-Arnold; Kylian Mbappé
| Line | # | Player | Starts in last 6 | Last 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 1 | Thibaut Courtois | 6/6 | 3/3 |
| D | 16 | Ibrahima Konaté | 5/6 | 3/3 |
| D | 24 | Denzel Dumfries | 5/6 | 3/3 |
| D | 4 | Dean Huijsen | 5/6 | 2/3 |
| D | 17 | Marc Cucurella | 3/6 | 2/3 |
| M | 5 | Jude Bellingham | 6/6 | 3/3 |
| M | 7 | Vinícius | 6/6 | 3/3 |
| M | 8 | Federico Valverde | 6/6 | 3/3 |
| M | 20 | Bernardo Silva | 3/6 | 1/3 |
| M | 12 | Trent Alexander-Arnold | 2/6 | 1/3 |
| F | 10 | Kylian Mbappé | 6/6 | 3/3 |
Team News: Who Is Out
Yago Santiago is out injured for Elche CF, which thins their midfield options for this fixture. Federico Redondo Solari, who has started three of the matches used in the home projection, looks the most obvious candidate from the bench to step into that gap if needed.
| Player | Pos | Status | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yago Santiago | M | injured | Jumpers knee |
Ferland Mendy, Éder Militão and Rodrygo are out injured for Real Madrid, a trio of absences that stretches both the defensive and forward lines. Álvaro Fernández Carreras, with three starts in the matches used for this projection, is the bench option best placed to provide defensive cover given two of the three unavailable players are defenders.
| Player | Pos | Status | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferland Mendy | D | injured | Hip injury |
| Éder Militão | D | injured | Hamstring Injury |
| Rodrygo | F | injured | Jumpers knee |
Where These Predictions Come From
These are not confirmed team sheets. Each predicted line-up is built from a side’s own recent matches, five for Elche CF and six for Real Madrid, with more recent matches weighted more heavily than older ones so the projection reflects current form rather than a flat average. Any player already confirmed injured or suspended has been removed before the XI is assembled, and the whole projection can and will change once the official team news is released closer to kick-off.
FAQ
Who is predicted to start in goal for Elche CF vs Real Madrid?
Matías Dituro is projected in goal for Elche CF, while Thibaut Courtois is expected to start between the posts for Real Madrid, both having started every match used in their respective projections.
What formation are Elche CF and Real Madrid expected to use?
Elche CF are projected in a 3-4-3 under Martín Anselmi, while Real Madrid’s expected XI lines up in José Mourinho’s preferred 4-2-3-1.
Who is unavailable for Elche CF vs Real Madrid?
Yago Santiago is out injured for Elche CF. Ferland Mendy, Éder Militão and Rodrygo are all out injured for Real Madrid.
When do Elche CF and Real Madrid kick off?
The Spanish La Liga fixture between Elche CF and Real Madrid kicks off on Tuesday 15 September 2026.