Elche decisively eliminated Las Palmas from the Copa del Rey with a commanding 4-0 victory at the Estadio Martínez Valero on January 5, 2025. This emphatic win not only marked the first official defeat of the year for Las Palmas but also secured Elche’s advancement to the next stage of the tournament.
The match saw Elche dominate from the opening whistle, with coach Eder Sarabia’s strategic approaches stiffening the yellow team’s efforts. With 18,302 spectators cheering them on, Elche made their intentions clear and put Las Palmas on the back foot. The tension mounted as goalkeeper Dinko Horkas was forced to deliver several impressive saves early on, particularly against attempts from Rodrigo Mendoza and Nicolás Fernández, who both threatened Las Palmas’s goal.
Las Palmas had their chances too, most noticeably when Fabio Silva narrowly missed connecting with a low cross from Marvin Park, failing to capitalize on the opportunity. The situation worsened for Las Palmas around the half-hour mark when José Campaña suffered an injury, leading to Kirian Rodríguez stepping onto the pitch. Unfortunately for Las Palmas, the substitution didn’t provide the needed lift.
Elche broke through Las Palmas's defenses just before halftime. Mendoza skillfully redirected a cross from the right to score the first goal at the 43-minute mark, sending the home crowd wild. Just moments later, Nico Castro came close to doubling Elche's lead, but his shot struck the side netting.
The second half saw Las Palmas attempt to rally, introducing players Moleiro and Mika Mármol to strengthen their midfield presence. They pushed hard for scoring opportunities, particularly with Fabio Silva and McKenna coming close. Yet, as Elche consistently pressured, their resolve began to weaken.
Two minutes after the halftime break, Elche extended their lead to 2-0 when David Affengruber expertly headed the ball home from yet another precise cross, leaving Las Palmas striving for hope as they fell behind psychologically. That hope dwindled rapidly as Elche scored again shortly after, with Salinas finishing beautifully to make it 3-0 in the 60th minute.
The final nail for Las Palmas’s hopes came from Nicolás Fernández, who netted Elche’s fourth goal just ten minutes later. The team’s efforts to find even one consolation goal faltered; Jaime Mata’s close attempt late in the game was thwarted by Elche's San Román, securing the clean sheet for the home side.
The lineups for the match had Elche fielding their strongest players, including Rodrigo Mendoza, who was prominent throughout the match. Las Palmas used their typical squad but struggled to keep up with the fan-driven energy of Elche, especially after their early injury and the inability to capitalize on chances.
Post-match, Eder Sarabia reflected positively on the team's performance, saying, "Everything went absolutely perfectly. It was a flawless Sunday, one we will always recall. It is truly commendable because we are facing a team with Champions League-level points since the arrival of Diego Martínez.” He acknowledged the rising excitement around the team, as Elche currently ranks fourth and is positioned to contend for promotion to the top division.
Looking forward to the next round of the Copa del Rey, Sarabia said, “We want to keep advancing. Every opponent will pose tremendous challenges. I have no preference, though I have personal connections with Athletic and Betis due to past experiences.” The anticipation grows as fans await to see who their team will face next.
With such enthusiasm and decisive victory against Las Palmas, Elche not only showcased their tactical prowess but also ignited the hopes of their supporters for continued success both domestically and within the Copa del Rey matches.