Elche vs Real Madrid preview - Elche aim to knock Real off course

Posted Saturday, February 21, 2015 by PA

Elche midfielder Adrian Gonzalez's gratitude to Real Madrid will not prevent him from doing his best to stall their title charge.

The 26-year-old emerged from the youth ranks at Real and while he is currently proving a key figure at the Estadio Martinez Valero, he retains a huge fondness for the club which gave him his big chance.

However, while the leaders' needs are pressing at the top end of the Primera Division table, so too are those of his current employers at the other with Elche currently sitting in 17th place.

Gonzalez told the club's official website, www.elchecf.es: "I am very grateful for all that Real Madrid gave me.

"I'm very happy with how things are going for me and for the team [Elche]. If we continue like this we will achieve our aim, which is to defend our La Liga status.

"The points against Real Madrid are just as important as against another rival that has the same aims as we do.

"In order to beat Real Madrid we have to show a lot of enthusiasm. We are going through a good run of form and we have to think that if we play like this, there is no reason why we cannot win always.

"That mentality is not going to change, regardless of who we play against."

That said, Elche know they face a tough evening on Sunday if they are to deny Real another victory.

Carlo Ancelotti's men won for the sixth time in seven outings in all competitions when they defeated Schalke 2-0 in Germany on Wednesday night, and they have won five of their last six league games with their only reverse the shock 4-0 derby drubbing at Atletico on February 7.

However, their hosts have improved dramatically in recent weeks to ease themselves four points clear of the drop zone.

Indeed, they have won four of their last six league games, including the last two at home to Rayo Vallecano and away at Eibar.

However, Elche will need no reminder of a comprehensive 5-1 defeat at the Bernabeu Stadium in September with Cristiano Ronaldo plundering four goals, including two from the spot, and Gareth Bale the other after Edu Albacar had fired the visitors into an unlikely lead from a 15th-minute penalty.