Elche Boss Anselmi Urges Fearless Approach Ahead of Real Madrid Clash

Elche manager Martin Anselmi has called on his players to be brave and keep the ball on the ground when they host Real Madrid at the Estadio Martinez Valero on tonight, believing possession is the key to getting a result against the league leaders.

Elche go into the game off the back of a 1-1 draw away at Athletic Club on Saturday, but they remain without a win in any competition this season and have been conceding an average of 2.6 goals per game. Their record against Real Madrid makes for grim reading too, with the hosts having failed to beat Los Blancos in any of their last 16 league meetings.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Anselmi made clear he wants his side to stick to their identity rather than sit back against a star-studded Real Madrid side.

"The fact that we competed at San Mames makes us feel united and shows that this is the path to follow," Anselmi said. "For us, the best way to defend is to have the ball. I believe we must maintain the same defensive competitiveness from San Mames and defend ourselves with possession."

The Argentine coach also warned his players about the dangers of losing focus for even a moment against a team of Real Madrid's quality.

"They make difficult passages of play look easy and push you to the limit," he said. "We can't afford to give anything away and must stay focused for the entire match."

Real Madrid arrive in good form and could rotate their squad after a 4-1 win over Rayo Vallecano and a tough Champions League test against Inter Milan. Manager Jose Mourinho will be looking for another strong result to keep the pressure on at the top of the table, with the Madrid derby coming up this weekend.

Elche, who remain without the injured Yago Santiago, will need a near-perfect performance if they are to end a three-match losing run in midweek league fixtures.