Anselmi readies Betis clash as Gonzalo Villar trains apart

Elche C.F.

The Elche begin preparations for the match against the Real Betis with major problems in midfield. In Wednesday's session, Martín Anselmi was unable to count on Marc Aguado, Thomas Lemar or Gonzalo Villar, three players expected to play a key role in the franjiverde engine room.

The absences of Aguado and Lemar are confirmed for Sunday's game at the Martínez Valero. The midfielder who arrived from Zaragoza continues his recovery from an injury to the ligaments in his ankle, suffered in the clash against Villarreal, and still uses crutches day to day. Although the recovery timeline has stretched a bit beyond what was expected, there is no doubt he could return to competition before the end of 2026.

In Lemar's case, the club has not published an official medical report, but the player is carrying a muscular injury that will keep him unavailable for the Betis match. In addition, his participation in the trip to Levante on November 23 remains up in the air.

52

Gonzalo Villar
1.930.000€+90.000€7

J11

8

J10

0

J9

3

J8

5

J7

MD

10

Gonzalo Villar's situation is different. The midfielder is not ruled out for the game, but he trains on the side due to discomfort stemming from a knock received in the match against Valencia. His inclusion in the squad will depend on how he progresses during the next training sessions.

Fantasy outlook

In Fantasy terms, Aguado and Lemar should be considered definite absences for this round. With Gonzalo Villar, it's best to act cautiously: he is not ruled out, but his physical condition brings a risk of being benched or missing the game altogether. With fewer options in midfield, there could be room for alternatives in Anselmi's starting XI, although for now there is no confirmation about the coach's plan.

Away from midfield, Yago de Santiago is also managing workload after returning against Pinatar. The winger is looking after a knee that has been operated on twice in the last 15 months, although the club is conveying calm about his condition.

Before training, Elche observed a minute's silence in memory of Jesús de Miguel, the Tenerife forward who passed away after suffering a cardiorespiratory arrest during Tenerife-Andorra. Víctor Chust passed on the franjiverde dressing room's condolences to the player's family.