Elche 1 Leeds United 2 live: Reaction and recap as ten-men Whites lift Festa d'Elx Trophy despite new injuries
and live on Freeview channel 276
Leeds touched down in Spain last weekend for a World Cup break training camp and Jesse Marsch’s Whites faced La Liga side Elche in the first of three winter friendlies for the Whites. But the fixture against Elche was more than just a friendly with the annual Festa d'Elx Trophy on the line as Leeds face La Liga’s bottom-placed side.
Elche have hosted the Festa d'Elx Trophy annually since 1960 in the form of a one-off friendly against European opposition, played home or away. Barcelona and Real Madrid feature among the former winners and now Leeds could add their name to the roll of honour with victory in this evening’s 7.15pm kick-off. Tonight’s hosts have yet to record a victory from their 14 games in La Liga so far this term in which they have amassed just four points.
Elche 1 Leeds United 2 recap and reaction
Key Events
- 7.15pm kick-off at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero
Team news - what we know so far
Six Leeds United players are not with the group in Spain. They are Tyler Adams, Brenden Aaronson and Rasmus Kristensen plus Patrick Bamford, Illan Meslier and Krisroffer Klaesson.
Stuart Dallas and Luis Sinisterra are with the Whites in Spain but will not be involved and there are also doubts about Junior Firpo and Diego Llorente.
Firpo picked up a niggle as Leeds returned to work following time off due to the World Cup and initially stayed behind as the group jetted out to Spain but then joined his team mates this week. Having only just arrived, Firpio is not expected to be involved tonight.
Robin Koch also limped out of Tuesday’s set-piece based session but is expected to feature.
Goalkeepers Illan Meslier and Kristoffer Klaesson are both out through illness and are back in England along with striker Patrick Bamford who is recovering from successful groin surgery in Germany. Bamford is expected back in around another week’s time.
Diego Llorente is with the group in Spain but has had surgery to rectify a fractured knuckle.
Luis Sinisterra and Stuart Dallas are both with the group too as they work their way back from injuries.
Sinisterra has been working in the gym throughout the week as he recovers from a Lisfranc injury whilst Dallas is continuing to progress on the long road back from a femoral fracture.
Jack Harrison missed United’s 4-3 defeat at Tottenham last month in the final game before the World Cup break due to a muscle strain but is also with the group.
None of United’s World Cup stars of Tyler Adams, Brenden Aaronson and Rasmus Kristensen are involved following their recent exploits in Qatar.
Leeds team is in
Leeds United v Elche: Robles; Ayling, Cooper, Struijk, Hjelde; Forshaw, Roca; Harrison, Summerville; Gelhardt, Rodrigo.
Here we go then
All set for Elche v Leeds. Even with 11 players missing, it’s a pretty strong Leeds team and Elche have taken just four points all season. Leeds big favourites here.