Atlético Madrid Faces Elche in High-Stakes Copa del Rey Clash

ELCHE, Spain — Atlético Madrid and Elche CF, two of Spain’s most in-form football teams, will face off in a high-stakes Copa del Rey match on Wednesday night. Atlético, unbeaten in La Liga since late October, and Elche, undefeated in the Segunda División since early November, are both vying for a spot in the quarterfinals.

At Atlético, manager Diego Simeone has led his team to a record-breaking 14 consecutive victories, surpassing their previous best of 13 wins set in 2012. A win against Elche would extend the streak to 15. Simeone, who returns to the bench after serving a suspension, has emphasized the importance of squad rotation, with players like Sorloth and Giménez potentially stepping into the starting lineup.

Elche, managed by Eder Sarabia, has also been in stellar form, with 10 consecutive matches without a loss, including four straight wins. Sarabia, a former assistant to Quique Setién, has instilled a strong sense of identity in his team, which boasts quality players like Febas, Nico Fernández, and Nico Castro. Despite being a Segunda División side, Elche is determined to compete with Atlético, leveraging their solid defense and attacking flair.

The match holds special significance for Elche goalkeeper Miguel San Román, a former Atlético academy product and the grandnephew of Atlético legend Miguel ‘Pechuga’ San Román. San Román, who spent a year under Simeone’s tutelage, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to train with the first team but emphasized his commitment to Elche. “We are going to fight to the death to win,” he said. “Elche is very excited about the Copa, and we believe we can compete with our weapons.”

Both teams enter the match with confidence, but only one can continue their unbeaten run. With VAR in use for the first time in this round, the stakes are higher than ever. The winner will advance to the quarterfinals, while the loser will see their Copa del Rey dreams come to an end.