Elche vs Celta Vigo preview - Escriba eyeing 'survival' win

Posted Saturday, March 01, 2014 by PA

Elche host Celta Vigo on Saturday night in search of three points which coach Fran Escriba believes could set them on their way to securing survival.

The Alicante club are only four points above the relegation zone, but victory over Celta would take them to 29 points and closer to the target of 40 points usually considered enough to guarantee top-flight status.

"Getting close to 30 points would put our minds more at ease," said Escriba in a press conference.

"You earn your place in the Primera Division metre by metre, and you don't get given many metres in this division.

"Tomorrow's points could put us halfway towards survival and our fans are very aware of that."

Elche beat Celta earlier in the season at Balaidos, but Escriba is wary that Luis Enrique's side have improved since then, having put together a run of five games without defeat.

"It's a very difficult game, because Celta have been playing very well recently, they work well as a unit and have minimised their errors," he said.

"They are very solid and have a lot of quality in midfield and attack. They also come here in great form."

Celta were unable to take advantage of playing the second half of last week's match at home to Getafe against 10 men, only managing a 1-1 draw, something goalkeeper Yoel Rodriguez wants to put right against Elche.

"We're going to Elche with the aim of making that point we got against Getafe count," he said.

Celta may be four points better off than Escriba's side but Yoel stressed that did not make a win any less valuable to the Galicians.

"Getting three points there would be super important because it would leave us one step away from achieving our objective," he said.

And he was keen to emphasise the leap in quality the team have taken in recent weeks.

"We have realised that we are all capable of playing good football, and that's a great thing," said Yoel.

"Earlier in the season we let matches get away from us due to defensive lapses, but now the team are more intense, tougher, and we are making people realise that."

Celta are without midfielder Alex Lopez and forward Nolito through suspension, while Mario Bermejo remains injured.

Elche will be boosted by the return of midfielder Cristian Herrera and Cristian Sapunaru, while Escriba indicated that winger Garry Rodrigues could make his first appearance for the club since joining on loan from Levski Sofia.