Merciful Barcelona put “only” three past Elche

Everyone has nights like that — when it’s just not your night, when the spark is missing, when the whole team slips into an evening of lethargy, when the ball refuses to cooperate and simply won’t go in. It happens even to Barcelona, though not very often. But this was not one of those nights…

This was the complete opposite: one of those evenings when Barcelona dance across the pitch, when everything clicks into place, and the opponent is left swallowing hard and hoping to avoid an epic humiliation. Elche actually got off lightly, losing “only” 3–1 at home. Their dream of another win over the Catalans has now lasted a full 52 years — and it goes on.

Hansi Flick’s team fired 30 shots at Elche’s goal and posted an expected goals (xG) figure of over 6.5. Translated for those less familiar with modern football metrics, Barcelona should have scored at least six goals on the night based on the quality of their chances — yet they stopped at just three. Among the “culprits” were Dani Olmo, who rattled the crossbar in the 28th minute, and Ferran Torres, who four minutes later somehow managed to hit both the bar and the post in the same attack.

From the very first minute, Barcelona showed just how much they enjoy playing at Elche’s stadium — history makes that clear. It took only six minutes for Lamine Yamal to punish a woefully organized home defense. Barca’s back line, however, did no better in the 29th minute: caught completely out of shape at midfield, they allowed Alvaro Rodríguez to receive the ball at the right time and in the right place, sprint from the center circle to the edge of the box, and equalize.

Had the match been played at Camp Nou, Frenkie de Jong would have been rewarded with a standing ovation for his move in the 40th minute. With a brilliant feint, he sent the goalkeeper and two Elche defenders the wrong way, then laid the ball on a plate for Ferran to finally get his name on the scoresheet.

The only bad news for the Catalans came in the form of Raphinha’s injury, which forced him off at halftime and saw Marcus Rashford come on in his place. The Englishman put the final seal on the match in the 72nd minute, after Yamal tore down the flank and delivered a cross to the far post.

LA LIGA - MATCHDAY 22

Friday

Espanyol - Alaves 1-2 (1-1)

/Fernandez 15 - Blanco 27, Boye 71/

Saturday

Oviedo - Girona 1-0 (0-0)

/Chaira 74/

Osasuna - Villarreal 2-2 (2-1)

/Munoz 20, Budimir 45+2 - Moreno 17 pen, 70/

Levante - Atletico Madrid 0-0

Elche - Barcelona 1-3 (1-2)

/Rodriguez 29 - Yamal 4, Torres 40, Rashford 72/

Sunday

16.00: (1.27) Real Madrid (6.75) Rayo Vallecano (11.0)

18.15: (1.90) Betis (3.60) Valencia (4.50)

20.30: (2.85) Getafe (2.95) Celta (2.85)

23.00: (2.35) Ath.Bilbao (3.35) Sociedad (3.35)

Monday

23.00: (2.40) Mallorca (3.20) Sevilla (3.10)

***odds are subject to change***