Our prediction for this Copa del Rey match:
Elche
Match Time & Date:
15/01/2025
21:30
Prediction: 1-2
Atletico Madrid
Elche will look to claim a major scalp in Copa del Rey when they take on Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey last 16. Los Franjiverdes are on a four-game winning run in all competitions and you should know that they are after their third consecutive clean sheet. Kosovo international Elbasan Rashani is pushing for a start after scoring the winner as a substitute against Zaragoza, while fellow forward Oscar Plano remains on the sidelines with injury.
Los Rojiblancos, on the other hand, are on a 14-game winning run in all competitions. Diego Simeone’s troops are leading the chase for the La Liga trophy, but they have big ambitions for the 2024/2025 Copa del Rey campaign as well. Even though the Argentine tactician is expected to mix the squad, away win should be considered as Atleti have strength in depth. All Samuel Lino, Angel Correa, Alexander Sorloth, and Marcos Llorente should be recalled to the starting XI, while towering defender Jose Gimenez remains in the recovery room.
Highlighted Player (Luka Modric):
Luka Modric is regarded as one of the best central midfielders in world football. The Croatian ace is a product of Dinamo Zagreb’s youth school and it has to be noted that he played 94 league games for the Modri between 2003 and 2008. In 2008 he signed a six-year deal with Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of £16.5 million.
Luka made his Tottenham debut on 16 August, 2008 in a 2-1 loss to Middlesbrough at Riverside Stadium. The Croatian star scored only 13 goals in 127 league appearances for the Spurs, but he is well known for his brilliant passing. In 2012 he signed for Real Madrid for a fee of £30 million and he made his debut against Barcelona in the 2012 Spanish Super Cup, return leg.
Modric quickly established himself as a first-team regular and, no doubt, he helped the capital club win two Champions League trophies (2013/2014, 2015/2016). You should bear in mind that he was named Croatian Footballer of the Year in 2007, 2008, 2011 and 2014.
Highlighted Team (Elche):
Established in 1923, Elche is a Spanish club that competes in La Liga. Los Franjiverdes welcome their rivals at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero, the stadium which can hold up to 33,732 spectators. The venue was opened on September 8, 1976.
Elche wear white shirts with green stripe and white shorts when playing at home, while black is the dominant colour of their away jersey. The club’s biggest success came in 1969 as Elche made it to the Copa del rey final. Los Franjiverdes faced Club Atletico de Bilbao in the Spanish Cup final, with the Basques winning the match by one goal to nil.
The likes of Mario Pasalic, Ivan Bolado, Garry Rodrigues, Goran Djorovic, Albert Nadj, Wakaso, Moha, Carlos Sanchez, Ioan Andone, Enzo Roco, Dominique Malonga, Richmond Boakye, and Sory Kaba are some of the notable players who were part of the team in the past. Elche have never represented Spain in European competitions.
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Wolves
Stuttgart
Leipzig 
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Arsenal
Tottenham
