FC Barcelona added three important points in the title battle with Real Madrid on Saturday. When visiting Elche, the LaLiga leader had numerous chances, of which only three were ultimately used: 1-3. Frenkie de Jong played an important role in the victory with a nice assist for Ferran Torres’ 1-2. Barcelona is now four points ahead of Real Madrid, which has a game in hand.
Barcelona found an opening in Elche’s defense in the sixth minute. Dani Olmo passed from deep midfield to Lamine Yamal, who rounded goalkeeper and Barça loanee Iñaki Peña and calmly slotted home: 0-1.
The chances would pile up quickly in the first half, although Barcelona, like Elche, did not play without risk. Elche were lurking for an opening behind the Catalans’ last line, which was usually very high when in possession of the ball.
Olmo should have scored a goal soon after his assist, but his attempt in the box flew just wide. The same thing happened to Ferran Torres moments later, before Olmo came close again. His fiery effort flew over the crossbar.
After half an hour, Elche managed to break through Barcelona’s high last line for the first time and struck immediately. Álvaro Rodríguez was too fast for Eric García and finished with a low slide: 1-1.
Barcelona stepped on the accelerator and had chance after chance to regain the lead. Five minutes before half time, Hansi Flick’s team struck. Ferran enabled De Jong to score, but instead of shooting he sent Peña and the defense into the woods with a cutting movement, before, after a short wait, he passed it back to the outlaw Ferran: 1-2.
The fact that the teams went to rest with a 1-2 score was mainly due to Fermín López. The Spaniard missed two giant chances. First he shot over a few meters from the uncovered goal. And after what should have been a nice front assist for De Jong, the creative once again passed the ball over from close range.
There were also opportunities in the second half for Barcelona, which handled them sloppily. Elche also appeared in front of García several times and the goalkeeper managed to distinguish himself with some nice saves. Ultimately, another goal would be scored after halftime. Marcus Rashford shot high from close range: 1-3.
Related reading
