Elche vs Rayo Vallecano preview - Escriba eyes 'important' home win - 7M sport

Elche vs Rayo Vallecano preview - Escriba eyes 'important' home win



Posted Sunday, February 08, 2015 by PA

Elche coach Fran Escriba insists his team are well aware of the importance of Monday's home match against Rayo Vallecano.

With just four wins from 21 games, Elche lie at the foot of the standings in La Liga, two points adrift of safety.

Last weekend's 1-0 defeat at Granada followed their 6-0 humiliation at home to Barcelona and Escriba is desperate for his team to return to winning ways.

"There is no doubt in our minds that the game against Rayo is extremely important for us," Escriba told Spanish newspaper Marca. "We need to start winning again.

"It's vital that we take as many points as possible at home, starting on Monday."

Escriba has urged the Elche fans to get behind the team.

"It's very clear to me that without our fans' support we would not have defended our top flight status last season," he said. "We hope that on Monday they will give us a helping hand because Rayo is a tough team."

Rayo travel to the Martinez Valero stadium also looking to avoid their third straight league defeat.

The Madrid outfit lost 3-1 at Atletico before falling 2-1 at home to Deportivo La Coruna last time out.

Rayo are 14th in the standings, six points clear of Elche.

Paco Jemez's side have won five games on the road this season and will be no pushovers.

"We really want to make amends for our defeat to Depor," Rayo striker Alberto Bueno said. "We need to get back to winning ways as soon as possible in order to climb up in the standings."

The hosts will be without injured striker Alvaro Gimenez, while defender Domingo Cisma is doubtful with an ankle injury.

Should Cisma not recover in time for Monday's game, Edu Albacar will take his place at left-back.

Jemez is expected to hand Venezuelan striker Miku his club debut.

The former Valencia and Getafe player joined Rayo earlier this week from Qatar side Al-Gharafa Sports Club.b



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