Elanga stretchered off after brutal Gayà challenge

Anthony Elanga was forced to leave the pitch on a stretcher during a friendly match on Saturday following a dangerous challenge from José Luis Gayà. According to Mundo Deportivo, the Newcastle forward was struck on his standing leg when the Valencia captain lunged in with a sliding tackle while Elanga was controlling the ball on the right flank.

Gayà received a straight red card for the incident. This type of challenge — the kind that typically leads to serious injuries — highlights the growing trend of heavy tackles in preseason friendlies. Earlier this week, Getafe had already lost Christantus Uche to a long-term injury in a similar incident, while Mallorca also had concerns over Antoniu Roca's welfare.