Excitement and drama in store at Los Cármenes

Los Cármenes is set for 90 minutes of no little excitement and drama in the Liga BBVA as Granada CF and Elche CF, separated in the table by two points, look to claim a key victory.

The hosts, who have not tasted victory at home since defeating RC Deportivo on the first matchday of the season and last won in the Liga BBVA in September, sit bottom and are aiming to bag the three points under coach Abel Resino, whose first game in charge came last week in the draw against opening-day rivals Depor. Elche, meanwhile, who are two points better off than Granada, will be out to bounce back from defeat to FC Barcelona last time out and regain the positive New Year form that had seen them begin 2015 with two wins and a draw.

Team news

In his second match as Granada boss, Resino will be without last-minute absentee Rubén Rochina, who joins already-unavailable Héctor Yuste, Riki, Eddy Silvestre and Jeison Murillo. Rubén Pérez and Juan Cala could make their debuts for the Andalusians. Elche have important absences in the shape of suspended trio Domingo Cisma, Fayçal Fajr and goalscorer Jonathas, while Pedro Mosquera remains on the sidelines through injury.

Views from the dugout

Resino declared that it is a crunch encounter "because the team we’re taking on is in our league within the league. Granada, the players and the fans urgently need a win." Opposite number Fran Escribá also underlined the importance of the clash. "It’s key that we get the win against Granada, because at the end of the day matches against direct rivals could be crucial. We’ve improved both collectively and individually in the past month," he said.