Elche vs Celta Vigo preview - Escriba eager to end Elche run

Posted Friday, September 26, 2014 by PA

Elche manager Fran Escriba is confident his side can avoid a third consecutive defeat when they take on Celta Vigo on Friday night.

Los Franjiverdes were beaten 2-0 by newly-promoted Eibar on Friday night before Cristiano Ronaldo found the back of the net four times in a 5-1 thumping at the hands of Real Madrid four days later.

Despite that alarming run of form, Escriba believes his side can turn things round and get their first home win of the 2014-15 season if they remain calm at the Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero.

"We have to move on. I'm convinced that there will not be a third straight loss. The boys are convinced of the importance of the game," he told Marca.

Elche's only win of the campaign so far came during an impressive 3-2 triumph at Rayo Vallecano and Escriba has seen enough from his side to believe they can turn things around.

But the former Atletico Madrid assistant manager, who has a virtually full-strength squad to choose from, is not downplaying the threat posed by Celta Vigo.

He sees them as a being a strong mid-table outfit and although his side did the double over them last year he has warned there are no guarantees they can do so again.

"They are one step ahead of a group of six or seven teams fighting against relegation. Last year we beat them both games, but they have a great squad," he added.

The Sky Blues arrive in Alicante in fine form after their unbeaten start to the season was given an even further boost by a 2-1 win over Galician rivals Deportivo la Coruna on Tuesday.

Nolito was the architect of that morale-boosting victory, scoring one and setting up the other to take his individual tallies to three goals and the same number of assists after five games.

The 27-year-old forward told Marca: "We are doing very well, but we must keep working to keep that streak."

Prior to their derby win, Celta Vigo came from behind to snatch a 2-2 draw at Atletico Madrid, with Nolito scoring the equaliser from the spot late on.

Celta boss Eduardo Berizzo is still without midfielder Borja Oubina, who has a knee injury, while Santi Mina has been called up to the squad but there is no place for Levy Madinda.

Despite their strong early run, Berizzo is determined to avoid getting carried away and warned that his side cannot relax at all because small margins like that can lead to defeats.

"It's a complex league and all the teams are very close," he said. "Distances are very short, a corner or a move (and) you can decide a game.

"(It) Would not be appropriate or clever (if) we changed our goal. (We) Believe we're going up, (and we're) taking steady steps."