Sunderland play their second and final preseason fixture in Spain, this time around against Spanish second tier side CD Eldense.
LAST SEASON
Eldense have been on a rapid rise through the divisions of Spanish football in recent years and they were promoted three times in a row between 2021 and 2023. Last season, therefore, saw them compete in the Segunda División for the first time since 1964. They survived by a five-point margin, finishing 16th, three positions above the bottom four. Their 42 league matches saw them achieve victory on 12 occasions, draw 14 times and lose 16. The most they won by was two goals, so their biggest wins came against SD Amorebieta twice (both 2-0), Burgos CF (2-0), FC Andorra (1-3), Racing de Ferrol (2-0) and Villarreal B (2-0). In terms of losses, their largest came in March away to Eibar (5-1). In the Copa del Rey they were knocked out in the second round by Malaga.
We didn’t have a very good time of things last campaign and we could only manage a 16th placed finish, a far cry from 6th where we ended up in 2022/23. Our biggest win was the 5-0 thumping of Southampton in September and our biggest defeats came at the hands of Middlesbrough (0-4) and Blackburn Rovers (1-5). In the FA Cup we fell at the third round stage to Newcastle United and in the League Cup, Crewe Alexandra defeated us on penalties in the first round. Tony Mowbrary was dismissed in December, his successor, Michael Beale, was given the boot in February and Mike Dodds oversaw the remainder of the season as interim head coach.
SQUADS
In between the sticks Eldense have Dani Martín, Guillermo Vallejo, Andoni Zubiaurre and Ian Mackay. Martín was brought in from FC Andorra this summer and won an U21 European Championship with Spain in 2019, Vallejo has been with the club for three years now, Zubiaurre spent half of last season out on loan at CD Mirandés and Mackay is a veteran goalkeeper (aged 38) born in Spain with a Scottish father.
Dario Dumic, a Bosnia and Herzegovina international who spent time in Norwich City’s academy, Piña, who signed for Eldense in 2023 and Nacho Monsalve, he is a product of Atlético Madrid’s youth setup, make up their centre back choice. They have Marc Mateu and Derick Poloni to draw upon at left back. Mateu is 34 and joined last year, meanwhile Poloni began his career in Brazil with São Paulo. Finally, for the defence, our opponents have two new signings for right backs, Víctor García, signed from Alcorcón and Fran Gámez, brought in from Real Zaragoza.
Defensively, in the middle of the pitch, there is David Timor and Marc-Olivier Doué. Timor came through the Valencia academy and Doué previously played in France, the Netherlands and Belgium. Eldense signed a central midfielder this summer from Real Oviedo, former Cardiff and Crystal Palace man Víctor Camarasa, he has been capped at an U21 level for Spain and the 30-year-old won a Copa del Rey with Real Betis in 2022. Miguel Marí, who was loaned out to Hércules CF in January, Sergio Ortuño, the 25-year-old is now in his fourth spell at Eldense after one permanent and two loan spells with the club before, Youness Lachhab, capped for Morocco U20s and Álex Bernal, formerly of Real Betis; are their other options in that position. Christian Montes and Nacho Quintana are Eldense’s two attacking midfielders. Montes, born in Tenerife, has played for a number of clubs in Cyprus and Quintana has come in on a free transfer from CD Lugo.
Out on the left wing they have Simo Bouzaidi, he’s also a Moroccan U20 international and has arrived from Cόrdoba CF and Joel Jorquera, a 23-year-old who came to the Azulgranas in January 2023. Ivan Chapela and Unai Ropero are their two choices on the opposite flank. Ropero is on loan from Deportivo Alavés and Chapela has featured for Spain U17s in the past. The forward lineup has been bolstered this summer, with two new signings, Alan Godoy, from Alavés (who has also been capped at an U16 level for Spain) and Sixtus Ogbuehi, from AD Ceuta. Additionally, 32-year-old Juanto Ortuño was already at the club.
We have so far completed the signings of two players. Simon Moore was the first to come in, he’s a 34 year-old goalkeeper who last played for Coventry City and he was followed by Alan Browne, a Republic of Ireland international who had previously racked up over 400 games for Preston North End, featuring mainly as a midfielder. Both should feature during preseason at some point. Browne warmed up against South Shields but did not feature in either of the squads versus them or Gateshead, so it looks like he may be close to his first outing in red and white. (Note: this was written before the fixture against Nottingham Forest was played).
Here's our full squad list for the trip to Spain: Patterson, Moore, Chibueze, Cirkin, O’Nien, Hume, Alese, Hjelde, Pembele, Anderson, Triantis, Huggins, Seelt, Neil, Browne, Rigg, Ekwah, Embleton, Matete, Mundle, Aouchiche, Watson, Clarke, Jobe, Roberts, Bennette, Ba, Mayenda, Rusyn, Hemir.
(Ballard was also due to travel but had to undergo a minor procedure due to an injury sustained against South Shields, so he will not travel).
FORM
In their latest five La Liga 2 games, Eldense won two, drew one and lost one. Their wins came against Elche and Burgos, their draw versus Levante and the defeats came at home to Gijon and Leganes.
Le Bris got off to a very mixed start as our new gaffer and won his first preseason outing away to South Shields with a convincing 5-0 scoreline but this was followed up by a 2-1 defeat to National League side Gateshead. Our three games before this all ended in losses, to Sheffield Wednesday, Watford and Millwall. By the time this is published the match against Forest will have been played as well.
THE VENUE
Both of our fixtures in Spain will be played at the neutral Pinatar Arena. Located in Mercia, it seats 3,000 and is often used for friendly matches and youth internationals.
PREDICTION
Looking at their players, a win would be assumed for us but it’s preseason and the games can be unkind to obvious predictions (look at the Gateshead match). Still, I’m going to say we run out 3-1 winners, Eldense will either score first or equalise at some point with their goal as well.
