Evening all! Sports Mole's live Copa del Rey coverage continues from Valencia as Segunda B team Elche welcome Atletico Madrid for the first leg of their last-32 clash. Elche were present in La Liga as recent as 2015, but it has been a very difficult last couple of years. Can the Valencia club upset Atletico in the first leg of their last-32 meeting tonight? Stay tuned to find out!

The last meeting between these two teams came in April 2015, with Atletico recording a 3-0 win at the Vicente Calderon. Atletico also beat Elche 2-0 in this stadium during the same season, and were victorious by the same scoreline on their previous visit during the 2013-14 campaign. Elche have actually not beaten Atletico since a 5-1 win during the 2001-02 Segunda season.

Right, without further ado, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news. Both sides were in league action at the weekend – Elche suffering a 2-0 defeat at home to Alcoyano, while Atletico recorded a 1-0 victory at Celta Vigo. Has Diego Simeone rung the changes for this one?

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TEAMS!

ELCHE: To follow

ATLETI: Moya; Vrsaljko, Gimenez, Lucas, Sergi; Gaitan, Augusto, Thomas, Keidi; Torres, Vietto

Atletico boss Simeone has made nine changes to the team that started against Celta Vigo in La Liga at the weekend, with Lucas Hernandez and Thomas Partey the only two players to keep their spots. Keidi Bare, 20, makes his first appearance of the season in a wide position, while Sergi Gonzalez starts at left-back. Fernando Torres and Luciano Vietto are the front two for the visitors. Elche team news to follow!

I shall speak about the home side - and indeed confirm their team news - a little bit later, but let's start with Atletico. The Madrid giants are 10-time winners of the Copa del Rey, but have not been present in the final of the competition since 2013 – when they recorded a 2-1 victory over Real Madrid.

🏆👑 ¡Es noche de #CopadelRey!
🔴⚪️🔴 ¡Vamos, Atleti!#AúpaAtleti #ElcheAtleti pic.twitter.com/GCzP7x6ZYg — Atlético de Madrid (@Atleti) October 25, 2017

It does appear unlikely that Atletico will be able to make a strong challenge for La Liga this season, which opens up this competition as the chance to life major silverware. It is a tournament that has been dominated by Barcelona in recent seasons, but Atletico will fancy their chances of enjoying a good run.

The Madrid giants will enter this match off the back of a 1-0 success over Celta Vigo on Sunday afternoon. That victory actually ended a run of four games without a win in all competitions, with a 2-1 defeat against Chelsea in the Champions League followed by draws against Leganes, Barcelona and Qarabag.

Atletico are actually in a very poor position in their Champions League group having collected just two points from three matches thus far. They face a serious fight to make the knockout round of the European competition, but are in a decent position in the league – currently sitting fourth, just one point off third-placed Real Madrid and two points off second-placed Valencia.

Finding the back of the net has been a problem for Atletico this season. Indeed, they have not scored more than once in a single game since the end of September, and only just edged past Celta at the weekend. Defensively, things have been pretty solid once again, but the return of Diego Costa cannot come quick enough as Simeone looks for a regular scorer.

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In terms of what is ahead for Atletico, they will welcome Villarreal in La Liga on Saturday night, before a massive game at home to Qarabag in the Champions League on October 31. The second leg of this tie does not actually take place until the end of November, which is very bizarre indeed.

TEAMS!

ELCHE: Vallejo; Calero, Golobart, Verdu, Albacar; Flores, Benito, M.Sanchez, I.Sanchez; Kaba, Lolo Pla

ATLETI: Moya; Vrsaljko, Gimenez, Lucas, Sergi; Gaitan, Augusto, Thomas, Keidi; Torres, Vietto

As for Elche, Vicente Mir's team will enter this match off the back of a 2-0 home defeat to Alcoyano on Saturday night. They are currently fourth in Segunda B having collected 18 points from their 10 league games this season. The Valencia side have actually scored 20 times in their 10 Segunda fixtures this term, which suggests that they could cause Atletico some problems tonight.

📸 | Este es el XI elegido por Vicente Mir para el partidazo de hoy. ¡Vamos Elche! #ElcheAtleti #CopaDelRey #MuchoElche pic.twitter.com/cuK6qMtIac — Elche Club de Fútbol (@elchecfoficial) October 25, 2017

As touched upon, Elche were a La Liga team as recent as 2015. They famously earned promotion to the top flight after winning the Segunda during the 2012-13 season, and finished 16th in La Liga during the 2013-14 campaign. They then posted an impressive 13th during 2014-15, but were relegated from the top flight due to unpaid tax debts.

Elche finished 11th in the Segunda during the 2015-16 campaign, before ending last season in 21st as they dropped into the third tier. It has been a difficult few years for a team that impressed many in La Liga, but tonight provides them with the chance to take on top-flight opposition once again.

🔛🆙¡A calentar!
⏳ tic, tac... ¡La #CopadelRey está a punto de empezar para nosotros!#AúpaAtleti #ElcheAtleti pic.twitter.com/lcLuVpTHSP

— Atlético de Madrid (@Atleti) October 25, 2017

Here we go then - both sets of players have joined us on the pitch ahead of kickoff here. Can Elche upset Atletico in the first leg tonight? The visitors have a strong team out, that is for sure!

KICKOFF! Atletico get things underway here...

... not quite a full house inside the stadium tonight, but there is a good atmosphere, with those in attendance certainly making their voices heard. Elche have seen plenty of the ball in the early minutes, with Kaba already showing nice feet in a tight area before releasing a weak attempt.

Elche continue to enjoy the ball in these early moments, with Flores breaking down the right before attempting to deliver, but Gimenez is on hand to make the challenge. This might well be a tricky night for Atletico, but Simeone has sent a strong and experienced XI to the field tonight.

CHANCE! Super chance for Atletico as Vrsaljko finds Torres with a brilliant cross from the right, but the striker's effort is just wide of the post. Should have done better from there.

Half-chance for Atletico as Thomas finds space in a decent area, but his effort was always rising over the crossbar. The visitors are seeing more and more of the ball in Elche's half of the field.

Lolo is the player causing Atletico problems as Elche's number 10 continues to find space in dangerous areas. The attacker looks to slide a pass into Kaba, but Gimenez makes the clearance. Atletico break down the other end with Sergi, who fires wide of the post from a decent area.

Gimenez rises highest inside the Elche box, but the referee blows for a free kick, and the home side can resume with a free kick inside their own box. Still goalless with 10 minutes on the clock here.

Bare has been busy in a wide area for Atletico in the early moments, but the visitors have not had a chance of note since Torres turned a cross wide of the post inside four minutes here.

Not an awful lot to report in terms of attacking football in the last few minutes, with Elche doing a good job of closing the space in the final third. Kaba remains busy for the hosts up front here.

Just a reminder that nothing will be decided tonight, with the second leg of this tie to take place at the end of next month. Atletico have not exactly been full of goals in recent weeks, but the visitors will be keen to take some sort of lead into the return. Elche continue to stand strong at the back.

Atletico make the breakthrough in the 17th minute as Thomas heads a Gimenez cross into the back of the net! It was a looping cross from Gimenez, and a powerful header from the midfielder!

Elche just need to be careful that this match does not drift away for them as Atletico enjoy more and more of the ball in dangerous positions. Thomas is having a super game in the middle of the park, while Torres and Vietto are causing problems with their movement in the final third.

SAVE! Moya has to fly across his goal to keep out a strike from Santacruz!

Elche continue to enjoy plenty of the ball in the final third, but they are conceding space on the counter-attack, and Vietto has just come close to meeting a low cross from Sergi as Atletico break forward once again. Still 1-0 with 25 minutes on the clock in Valencia tonight.

Lolo looks to drive away from Lucas Hernandez in a wide area, but the Atletico defender is too strong, and eventually wins a free kick for his team, which Moya will come forward to take.

Kaba looks to break away from the Atletico defence as Elche break forward once again, but Gimenez is on hand to make the challenge. You do feel that Elche's best chance of scoring tonight will come on the counter-attack through Kaba, who has serious pace at the tip of their attack.

Little under 15 minutes of the first period remaining, and Atletico still lead courtesy of that header from Thomas, which came from a Gimenez cross. Elche have come close on a couple of occasions, but have been unable to find the back of the net. It has been quite an open game for periods.

Benito feeds Kaba as Elche look to threaten through their number nine once again, but Gimenez is on hand to make the clearance, and Atletico are back on the front foot in Valencia.

Possession football from Atletico in the last few minutes as they pass and probe in the final third, but Elche are not overly concerned at the moment as they sit deep before clearing their lines.

POST! Vietto hits the post as Atletico come close to a second. It was a good strike from the Argentine, but his effort came off the outside of the post. Elche avoid conceding a second.

Replays have shown that Elche goalkeeper Vallejo actually got a touch to Vietto's strike, which turned the ball onto the post. It was a smart save from the Spaniard, and Vietto's wait for a goal goes on. It would be fair to say that the Argentine really needs to find the back of the net.

SAVE! Another super save from Vallejo to keep out a close-range Torres header!

Atletico should have doubled their lead in this first period, but the score remains 1-0 as we approach the final stages of the first half. I should not think there will be too much added time.

Half-chance for Elche this time as Lolo meets a cross from Sanchez, but his header is just over the crossbar. The home side have certainly caused Atletico problems in wide positions here.

So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Atletico leading Elche 1-0 courtesy of a header from Thomas in the 17th minute. The visitors have had a couple of excellent chances to stretch their advantage, but Elche have kept the score down to one at the end of the first half.

STATISTICS! Atletico had 58% of the ball in the first period, while they had 11 attempts - four of which were on target. Elche, meanwhile, hit the target with one of their four attempts. There has not been a single yellow card tonight - it has just not been that type of football match.

⏱ 45' | 0-1 | And that's the half! #ElcheAtleti #AúpaAtleti pic.twitter.com/F2m2UoV1Qt — Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) October 25, 2017

RESTART! Elche resume the action here...

... no changes from either side at the break, which is not too much of a surprise. However, I suspect that both managers will have alterations in mind as the second period gathers pace in Valencia.

It has been a decent start to the second period from Elche, with Albacar making ground in wide positions. The defender delivers a long throw into Kaba, but Gimenez is on hand to make the clearance. You do get the feeling that Elche need to score tonight to stand a chance in the second leg.

Elche have a penalty as Lucas brings Lolo to the deck inside the Atletico box!

Lolo finds the back of the net from the penalty spot and we are all square here!

It was a very clumsy challenge from Hernandez, and the Atletico defender is very fortunate not to have picked up a booking for that challenge. Elche will not mind too much, however, as they are now level early in the second period. The home supporters are really pushing their side forward now.

Torres finds Vietto inside the Elche box as the visitors have the chance to hit back, but the Argentine takes far too long on the ball, and Verdu is across to make the challenge.

BOOKING! Verdu (Elche) is booked for a late challenge on Vietto.

BOOKING! Benito (Elche) picks up the game's second yellow for a foul on Thomas.

ELCHE SUB! Elche make their first change as Benja replaces Lolo here.

ATLETICO SUBS! Double change for the visitors as Moya and Saul Niguez replace Bare and Thomas. Bare has struggled to get into the game for long spells it must be said.

Half-chance for Elche as Kaba finds space in the final third, but his effort was always rising over the crossbar. Little under 30 minutes of normal time remaining, and we are locked at 1-1 here.

CHANCE! Super chance for Atletico to regain he lead as Torres sends Vietto through on goal, but the Argentine can only lift his effort wide of the post. He just had to score!

Vietto's goal struggles have continued tonight, but at least he is getting in the right positions. I would be surprised if we had seen the last of the goals here as both teams continue to commit players in the final third of the field. Little over 25 minutes of football remaining in this one.

BOOKING! Golobart (Elche) is booked for a foul on Saul.

ELCHE SUB! Elche make their second change as Samba replaces M.Sanchez.

Little under 20 minutes of football remaining in Valencia, and we are still locked at 1-1. Atletico could and probably should have scored three times in the first period, but just one goal separated the two teams at the break. The hosts then levelled from the penalty spot early in the second period, and they have matched Atletico since then. Fair play to the home side for making this a contest.

BOOKING! Saul (Atletico) is booked for a foul on Samba.

Elche are the team looking the more likely at the moment as they continue to force the issue in the final third of the field. The home side really have been excellent since the half-time break.

ELCHE SUB! Tekio replaces Flores in the home side's final change.

Little over 10 minutes of the second period remaining, and Elche remain the team on the front foot. Kaba hits one from distance, but it is fairly comfortable for Moya, who then has to clear a flicked header from Benito. Atletico just cannot fashion an opportunity of their own at the moment.

Simeone still has one permitted change remaining, but there is currently no movement on the Atletico bench as we enter the final 10 minutes of this Copa del Rey clash in Valencia.

Bit of pressure from Atletico in the last couple of minutes, but nothing that has caused Elche's defence too many problems. Still 1-1 with 83 minutes on the clock.

The home supporters continue to make their voices heard as we head for the final stages. Just a reminder that these two teams will do it all again in the second leg at the end of next month.

Torres misses the crossbar from inside the Elche box as Atletico threaten late on.

We are into the final minute of this first leg, and the game is stretched as both teams look to score a second. It does appear that the score will stay 1-1, however, which would leave things delicately poised ahead of the second leg at the end of next month. What a result this would be for Elche.

We are into the second minute of additional time, and not too much is happening as both teams appear to have settled for a share of the spoils. It has been a really good game of football.

So there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with the two teams playing out a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their last-32 Copa del Rey clash. Great result for Elche! Thanks for joining Sports Mole for our live commentary was once again. Until next time!