When a team posts such meager away numbers—just 7 points from 54, the worst in La Liga—it’s hard to believe in coincidences. For Elche, the pattern is painfully clear. A mix of individual errors, bad luck, controversial refereeing decisions, and simply being outclassed by better sides has defined their travels. At La Cartuja on Thursday, they experienced a bit of everything in a 2-1 loss to Real Betis, their 13th defeat in 18 league away games.
This setback, at this stage of the season, carries extra weight due to the tight relegation battle. Elche now teeters on the brink of the drop zone and could end the matchday in the bottom three with only two games remaining—a scenario that would push them into the red zone and a worrying calendar ahead.
The story of the defeat had its share of misfortune. Betis struck early, but Elche responded quickly to equalize through Héctor Fort. Just as they were gaining momentum, referee Munuera Montero disallowed a goal from Diang due to a handball by André Silva in the buildup. Early in the second half, a reckless challenge by Petrot on Anthony left Elche with ten men. Unable to withstand Betis’s pressure, they conceded a stunning long-range goal from Pablo Fornals. With over 20 minutes left, Eder Sarabia’s side fought bravely but ultimately fell short.
**39 Points… and Several Rivals Still to Play**
Elche currently sit 14th with 39 points, but depending on other results, they could slip into the relegation places. Levante’s 3-2 win in Vigo on Thursday wiped out Elche’s two-point cushion over the drop zone, which is now occupied by Girona with the same tally. For Elche to end the weekend in the bottom three, four results would need to go against them: Mallorca, Espanyol, and Girona must all win or draw against Getafe, Athletic Club, and Real Sociedad respectively, and Alavés would have to beat Barcelona.
Regardless of what rivals do, Elche knows that 39 points is unlikely to be enough for survival. They have two crucial matches left: next Sunday at home against Getafe (without the suspended Aleix Febas, due to yellow card accumulation), and a final-day trip to Girona—the team currently sitting just above the relegation zone.