Barcelona Narrow the Gap with Real Madrid Following Victory Over Elche

Barcelona has reduced the deficit to five points from LaLiga frontrunners Real Madrid, securing a 3-1 victory against Elche, which marks their ninth consecutive win over the Franjiverdes.

Fast-Paced Opening

The match began with both teams showcasing a lively pace and frequently changing possession. However, it took eight minutes before significant opportunities arose. Elche’s David Affengruber erred in possession, allowing Alejandro Balde to connect with Lamine Yamal, who unleashed a powerful left-foot strike to score.

Just four minutes later, a mistake by Adrià Pedrosa gave Fermín López the chance to surge forward, setting up Ferran Torres for a tap-in, bringing Barcelona’s tally of multiple goals in their last 11 encounters to fruition.

To their credit, Elche displayed resilience, refusing to withdraw in the face of Barcelona’s attacking prowess as the home team chased their sixth victory in seven matches this season.

Continued Pressure

Despite the scoreline, Barcelona remained relentless, with Marcus Rashford and Fermín López both coming close to extending the lead. A crucial defensive intervention by Pedrosa prevented Rashford from scoring.

Elche’s Rafa Mir managed to exploit a timid offside trap, curling a splendid shot past Wojciech Szczęsny just before halftime, giving Elche a glimmer of hope.

The typical flow of the game resumed after the break, with Barcelona maintaining their momentum. Rashford missed a prime opportunity early in the second half and had a goal disallowed due to Fermín’s previous offside infringement.

Elche’s Attempt to Equalize

Determined to capitalize on Barcelona’s missed chances, Mir nearly equalized for Elche, hitting the crossbar with a shot reminiscent of his earlier successful attempt, before Rashford found the net, scoring after hitting the woodwork from a tight angle.

Elche’s Mir was undeterred, striking the frame of the goal again with just over 20 minutes to go, before hitting a close-range shot that went straight to Szczęsny.

Despite Mir’s efforts, the match concluded with Elche still searching for their first win in four league matches (1 draw, 3 losses), while Barcelona’s unbeaten streak against Elche extends to 22 games (18 wins, 4 draws).

Player of the Match

Flashscore Man of the Match: Marcus Rashford (Barcelona)

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