La Liga will be coming back to action from its winter break, with Elche starting 2022 by welcoming Granada to Estadion Martinez Valero on Sunday.
While the hosts were beaten by Barcelona last time out, Granada took a break for the festive season having recorded back-to-back wins, the second coming against reigning champions Atletico Madrid.
La Liga strugglers Elche were able to pull themselves back from two goals against youthful Barcelona side, raising hopes of a famous win.
However, Nico Gonzalez then intervened to secure a 3-2 victory for Barcelona, forcing the Valencian outfit to a ninth league defeat of the season.
They are winless in each of their last eight La Liga meetings with Granada, and last scored against them in La Liga back in 1975. Before they resume their Copa quest with a tie against Almeria next week, a rare league win would provide a big boost, given their history in this fixture.
Granada return to competitive action having finished off a busy year with an impressive pair of victories.
Having finished high enough to qualify for continental competition for the first time, 2021 started with a memorable run to the Europa League quarter-finals, but the current season has seen them slip into the bottom half of the Primere Division standings.
Although they were eliminated from the Copa del Rey by fourth-division Macha Real in between, Granada will treasure their triumph over Atleti, in which they shocked the champions with a 2-1 success at Los Carmenes.
Despite playing under pressure, they remained determined after Joao Felix fired the visitors into an early lead, and Darwin Machis equalised 15 minutes later, before Jorge Molina sealing the victory.
Moreno will hope to retain that momentum this weekend and lead his club to a third straight league victory for the first time since 2019.
Elche vs Granada head to head
The two La Liga clubs have previously met on 14 occasions across all competitions, where Granada are leading with 6 victories against 1 of Elche, and they have drawn in seven. Granada have scored 14 goals and conceded 9. Granada have won in their last three encounters home and away.
Elche 0-0 Granada 18/08/18
Elche 2-1 Granada 13/09/18
Granada 2-1 Elche 21/01/19
Elche 0-1 Granada 13/12/20
Granada 2-1 Elche 28/02/21
Elche latest home form
Elche won 3-1 over Cadiz in their last match at home. However, they have not been on a good form at home, having lost two successive matches prior to that, losing 2-1 to Real Madrid and 3-0 to Real Betis. In their last five, they have won two, drawn one and lost two.
Elche 1-0 Celta Vigo 03/10/21
Elche 2-2 Espanyol 23/10/21
Elche 1-2 Real Madrid 30/10/21
Elche 0-3 Real Betis 21/11/21
Elche 3-1 Cadiz 05/12/21
Elche latest away form
Elche have recently picked up two victories in their five most recent away matches, having defeated Leioa 2-0 and Unionistas de Salamanca in the Copa de Rey. However, they have been on a poor run of form in La Liga, having managed just two draws in their last five league matches.
Osasuna 1-1 Elche 29/11/21
Leioa 0-2 Elche 02/12/21
Valencia 2-1 Elche 11/12/21
Unionistas de Salamanca 0-1 Elche 15/12/21
Barcelona 3-2 Elche 18/12/21
Granada latest home form
Granada have been on a good run of form at home, as they have lost just once in their last six matches, with the loss coming 4-1 against Real Madrid in La Liga. In their last five matches, they have won three, drawn one and lost one in the process.
Granada 1-1 Getafe 28/10/21
Granada 1-4 Real Madrid 2/11/21
Granada 2-1 Alaves 03/12/21
Granada 4-1 Mallorca 19/12/21
Granada 2-1 Atletico Madrid 22/12/21
Granada latest away form
Granada have lost 1-0 to Mancha Real in the Copa del Rey in their last away game. However, they have been on a relatively good form on the road, having not lost in three matches prior to that. In their last five, they have won one, drawn two and lost two.
Espanyol 2-0 Granada 06/11/21
Athletic Bilbao 2-2 Granada 26/11/21
Laguna 0-7 Granada 30/11/21
Cadiz 1-1 Granada 13/12/21
Mancha Real 1-0 Granada 16/12/21
Elche news
With Covid-19 cases, Gonzalo Verdu has now tested negative, while Lucas Perez, Lucas Boye, Ivan Marcone, Pere Milla and Dario Benedetto are among those who have been self-isolating.
Defender Johan Mojica returned to training and is fit to start. Pedro Bigas is also expected to be available again after a groin strain.
Granada news
Granada decided to withold names of players affected by the outbreak, but Robert Moreno has been without Carols Neva, Sergio Escudero and Carlos Bacca in training this week, alongside Santiago Arias who was injured against Atletico.
Maxime Gonalons is back from suspension, while Jorge Molina is expected to lead the line again.
Prediction and Odds
Both teams are coming into this match having been affected by absences caused by coronavirus, but Granada have fewer men missing from their first-choice lineup, which may give them the advantage.
Granada have also performed well in their most recent matches, and we back them for the victory on Sunday.
Odds: 1 3.10 X 2.60 2 2.30
Probable outcomes
Elche 0-1 Granada
Elche 0-2 Granada
Elche 1-2 Granada
Elche 1-1 Granada
Elche 0-0 Granada
