Elche vs Villarreal: Community Clash as Valencia's Top Derby Kicks Off 2026
Unbeaten at home Elche host a depleted Villarreal in LaLiga's standout Valencian derby, with Sarabia's men looking to continue their surprise season against Marcelino's struggling side.
New year, same beautiful football as the Valencian Community serves up its most anticipated derby to start 2026. Both sides enter with contrasting fortunes - Elche riding high as the season’s surprise package while Villarreal look to recover their early-season form.
Elche’s fortress mentality
The hosts enter January determined to extend their love affair with the Martínez Valero stadium, where they remain unbeaten this season. Their home form has been proper Bobby Dazzler, with emphatic victories in their last two outings:
- 3-0 thrashing of Girona
- 4-0 demolition of Rayo Vallecano
Sarabia’s men have already accumulated more than half the points typically needed for survival, but they’re not limiting their ambitions there. They’ll have to manage without Héctor Fort though, who’s been crucial to their attacking threat in recent matches.
Yellow Submarine seeking repair
Villarreal travel to Elche desperate to rediscover the form that deserted them during a December dip. They’re absolutely cream-crackered with injuries, forcing Marcelino to call up five academy players to complete his squad. New signing Thiago Fernández hasn’t made the cut yet either.
Marcelino has emphasized the need to regain their clinical edge in both boxes - the quality that kept them among the league’s top performers for much of the campaign. For this to happen, key players like Foyth and Mikautadze must return to their best.
Key battle: Álvaro vs Mikautadze
With adaptation periods now complete, both strikers need to deliver consistently. Álvaro Rodríguez is coming off his finest performance in an Elche shirt, absolutely tearing Rayo apart with a goal and two assists.
Mikautadze has managed three goals himself but hasn’t been showing his best form lately. Villarreal desperately need him firing on all cylinders if they’re to take anything from this fascinating derby clash.