Athletic Club - Elche. Match preview, likely lineups and fantasy tips. LaLiga Matchday 5

We show the likely lineups and statistical data of interest for your preferred fantasy game.

We also take a bit of a gamble and provide you with a captain, a striker, a wall and a risk for each of the teams.

Athletic Club - Elche

Match date: 12/09-18:30

Athletic Club

The Athletic Club host Elche at San Mamés on matchday five of the league season. The Basque side comes into the game on a strong run after earning two consecutive wins on merit in LaLiga: one against Celta de Vigo at Balaidos and another against Atletico Madrid at San Mamés. In both matches, the team's football was of high quality, as well as the players' physical effort.

For the clash, Athletic Club boss Edin Terzić will not be able to call on several injured players. Daniel Vivian has yet to make his LaLiga debut, suffering from some discomfort. Peio Canales is still recovering from a muscle injury, although he is expected to return to the group dynamic soon. He also will not be able to call on Guruzeta: it has been reported this week that he is dealing with a muscle injury, so based on what has been seen in recent matchdays, the centre-forward role will be covered by Iñaki Williams.

The good work of several players who are theoretically substitutes, such as Robert Navarro or Berenguer, creates doubts in the starting XI. In the last match, Nico Williams started and scored, so he is likely to repeat. That leaves the right-wing doubt, which will be covered by Navarro or Berenguer.

A great atmosphere is expected at San Mamés as they look to secure a third consecutive win against an Elche side that currently has just one point in the standings. Even so, it will not be an easy task and the Basques will have to put everything on the line.

##APUESTAS1APUESTAS##

Elche C.F.

Elche travel to San Mamés this Saturday looking for their first win of the season after going down 2-3 to Real Sociedad. The Martín Anselmi side again showed two different faces: they suffered a lot for much of the match and found themselves 0-2 down, but they reacted in the second half to level the score with goals from Thomas Lemar and Fer Niño, before conceding the decisive goal in the final minutes. The franjiverdes arrive as 19th in the standings, with one point, five goals for and twelve against.

Anselmi could make changes to the starting XI, especially in a defence that continues to offer too many easy chances. Víctor Chust was the centre-back who left the best impressions against Real, while Pedro Bigas and Buba Sangaré were less accurate. In addition, the latest signings are already available, so players such as Kevin Lomónaco, Rubén Sánchez and Roy Revivo can start to increase competition in the defensive line.

There are also options in midfield. Gonzalo Villar continues to carry a lot of weight in the build-up, while the introduction of Thomas Lemar changed the game against Real Sociedad. The Frenchman scored on his debut and left very good impressions, so after starting the last match from the bench he could be one of the changes in Anselmi's XI at San Mamés.

Up front, Fer Niño arrives boosted after scoring for the second consecutive matchday and seems to have gained ground to continue as the offensive reference. Buonanotte once again showed flashes of real quality against Real and should keep playing a prominent role, although Anselmi has plenty of alternatives such as Ponce, Osorio, Cepeda or Ali Houary to reshape the attack.

As for absences, Yago Santiago continues to be the confirmed absence due to injury. Fer Niño has already recovered from the discomfort he was carrying from last week and was able to play and score against Real Sociedad. With the final training sessions and the squad list still to come, there are no new confirmed absences in the franjiverde camp.

The match will be especially demanding for Elche: Athletic come into the game after beating Atletico Madrid 3-0 at San Mamés and are in the best moment of their season, with two consecutive wins and two clean sheets.

##APUESTAS75APUESTAS##