Atletico Madrid face Elche in their next La Liga encounter away from home on Wednesday evening.Atletico Madrid are sitting comfortably in fourth position in the league table with 57 points from 31 matches while Elche are fighting for survival as they are in 18th position in the table with 32 points from 31 matches.Elche vs Atletico Madrid – Match preview and team newsDate: Wednesday, 22nd April.Kick-off: 6pm BST.Venue: Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero, Elche.Elche team newsManagerial focus is currently on the fitness of Buba Sangare, who is recovering from a concussion, and Adam El Mokhtari; both players face late fitness tests before the squad is finalised.A major boost for the hosts is the return of Pedro Bigas, who is expected to slot straight back into the heart of the defence after serving his suspension.Elche is expected to field a compact 3-4-1-2 formation, relying on the physical presence of Rafa Mir upfront to pressure a makeshift Atlético defence.Atletico Madrid team newsDiego Simeone is forced to navigate a mini-injury crisis, most notably losing key attackers Ademola Lookman and Alexander Sørloth to injuries sustained during that final.José María Giménez remains sidelined with a muscle issue, while David Hancko is considered a major doubt despite nearing a return from an ankle injury.With a critical Champions League semi-final against Arsenal on the horizon, Simeone is expected to rotate to manage fatigue.This could see prospects like Julio Díaz and Javier Bonar earn rare starts. On a more positive note, veteran goalkeeper Jan Oblak is set to return to the starting XI after being rested, and Marcos Llorente has been cleared to play. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});FormElcheElche CF shows signs of a late-season revival in their battle against relegation, having won two of their last three league outings. This positive run includes a crucial 1–0 home victory over Valencia CF on April 11, which moved them within a point of safety. While they currently sit 18th, their formidable home form is a major asset; they boast the league’s eighth-best record at the Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero, losing only twice there all season.Atletico MadridAtlético Madrid’s season has hit a rough patch, with six losses in its last seven matches across all competitions. Their recent 2–1 league defeat to Sevilla FC was compounded by a heartbreaking penalty-shootout loss to Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey final on April 18. Despite sitting fourth in the table, Simeone’s side has struggled for domestic consistency, failing to win a league match since mid-March. Their focus now shifts toward securing their top-four spot and an upcoming Champions League semi-final against Arsenal F.C.Predicted lineupsElche: Dituro; Petrot, Affengruber, Bigas; Morente, Febas, Aguado, Valera; Capeda; Rodriguez, MirAtletico Madrid: Oblak; Llorente, Pubill, Bonar, Diaz; Mendoza, Cardoso; Almada, Baena, Gonzalez; AlvarezHow to watch Elche vs Atletico Madrid?UK viewers can catch it live on Premier Sports 1.Read Also – Rosenior fumes at ‘unacceptable’ Chelsea defeat to BrightonSee More – Liverpool make surprise Arne Slot decision ahead of next seasonFollow the Football Faithful on Social Media:Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube The post Elche vs Atletico Madrid – Match preview and team news first appeared on The Football Faithful.