MATCH PREVIEW: CF BENIDORM v CD JÁVEA

MATCH DETAILS

SUNDAY 3rd DECEMBER, 12.00noon
CF Benidorm .vs. CD Jávea
Campo Municipal Nou Pla
Avinguda d’Altea
03570 Villajoyosa (Alicante)

Hot on the heels of the 1-3 home reverse against CD Olímpic comes the difficult short journey down the coast to take on new league leaders CF Benidorm, who leapfrogged early pace-setters CD Eldense “B” after a 1-0 victory in Elda. An 84th minute goal from veteran striker Pablo Morgado secured all three points to put the Benidorm side one point clear at the top of the table and confirm their status as one of the favourites to claim a top three spot, if not the inaugural championship of the Lliga Comunitat.

However, giants are known to unexpectedly fall at times and we can hope that head coach Julio Ivorra will be able to recall several key players and name his strongest team possible for this vital clash.

CF Benidorm are currently playing their home games some 20 minutes down the road at the Estadio Nou Pla, home of Villajoyosa CF, due to continued improvement works on the Estado Municipal Guillermo Amor in Benidorm.

THE OPPOSITION

The current incarnation of the top side in the holiday resort, CF Benidorm was formed in 2023 with the merger of Racing CF Benidorm with Atlético Benidorm CD. The former was founded in 2017 in the wake of the collapse of Benidorm CF, a regular side in the Second Division B, which folded under the weight of spiralling debt, whilst Atlético Benidorm was created in 2009 as SFFCV Benidorm CF.

The DV7 Group, a business venture headed by former Valencia and Spain striker David Villa who is the club’s vice president, bought Racing CF Benidorm to implement their academy system and form a sustainable football club whilst also “awakening a sleeping giant”. ¹ As the renowned football outlet Marca suggested: “This is a unique opportunity for two internationally recognized brands, Benidorm and David Villa, to join together in a football project based on sustainability”.² The deal was approved by the local council who own the 6,000 capacity Estadio Guillermo Amor.

Played for Both Teams

Winger Ayoze Espinar Gonzalez (2017-2021) made almost 100 appearances for CD Jávea, scoring seven times, before his departure for CF Gandía in 2021. He joined CF Benidorm this summer and has featured in ten games as the side charge to the top of the table.

Defender Mario Izquierdo Mari (2022-2023) spend just one season with the ‘rojiblancos’ and played in all but one match in a difficult campaign, making 33 appearances and scoring 4 times. He opted to move to CF Benidorm in the summer and has featured in eight of the 10 games.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

Although CD Jávea have met various football clubs based in Benidorm, the head-to-head record with CF Benidorm is based on encounters with the main club from which it has been formed: Racing CF Benidorm.

The last time we met
07/05/2023 – CD Jávea 1-1 Racing CF Benidorm
A goal six minutes from Javi looked to have secured maximum points for CD Jávea in their final home game of a rather forgettable season. However, the visitors managed to force a share of the spoils with a late equaliser from Pato just before the final whistle and the draw meant that the rojiblancos finished in the bottom half of a league table for the first time since the 2012-13 season.³

Link: MATCH REPORT

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