LaLiga: ‘The only way' – How Elche can shock Jose Mourinho and Real Madrid

• Real Madrid pay a visit to Elche under the bright floodlights, desperate to lock down three points to preserve their chase against league leaders Barcelona.

• Elche manager Martin Anselmi has insisted his side will refuse to play a low block, choosing instead to aggressively starve Madrid of the ball to protect his defence.

• Los Franjiverdes head into tonight's match languishing inside the relegation zone, hunting for their very first domestic victory of the campaign.

A special level of football intensity is set to take over Spain tonight as the very first midweek fixtures of the new La Liga campaign kick off under the bright stadium floodlights.

Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid will travel to the Martinez Valero stadium tonight, Tuesday, at 8:30 PM WAT, to face a desperate Elche CF side in an encounter where losing is simply not an option for either manager. 

Los Blancos are under heavy pressure to secure an absolute must-win victory if they want to keep up the hot chase to wrestle the league crown back from their bitter rivals, FC Barcelona.

However, Elche head coach Martin Anselmi has refused to be intimidated by the profile of the visiting European giants, dropping a bold tactical plan on how his side intends to shock the special one.

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Elche enter this midweek clash in a very pathetic state, having failed to secure a single victory since the start of the new season. 

The club currently sits miserably inside the early relegation zone, a situation that has caused deep panic among the home supporters.

On paper, a visiting Real Madrid side, fresh from their weekend LaLiga exploit, should easily walk over the hosts. 

But Anselmi believes that playing in front of their passionate home crowd gives them a unique psychological advantage to create a massive upset.

The tactical battle between the two managers promises to be an absolute thriller, as Mourinho's ruthless, fast-countering style clashes directly with Elche’s desperate home survival instincts.

Instead of sitting deep, parking the bus, and waiting to be destroyed by Real Madrid's explosive frontline, Anselmi has shockingly chosen to fight fire with fire.

Speaking to reporters in his pre-match press conference, the Elche boss confidently explained that his players will actively fight to take control of the midfield and starve Madrid of the ball.

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"We, playing at home, have to try to keep possession," Anselmi revealed boldly. "I honestly think the best way for us to defend against a team like Real Madrid will be with the ball."

Fans will be ready to question if this possession-heavy tactic is a stroke of pure genius or absolute tactical suicide against a Mourinho team that loves to ruthlessly punish teams that lose the ball in dangerous areas.