Barcelona closed the gap on leaders Real Madrid to five points after a confident 3-1 victory over Elche at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. Hansi Flick’s side responded impressively to recent setbacks, producing a vibrant attacking performance led by Lamine Yamal, Fermin Lopez, and Marcus Rashford.
Elche entered the game in good form following their promotion from the Segunda División, but the visitors’ early composure was undone within minutes by Barcelona’s intensity. The opening goal arrived after just nine minutes when Alejandro Balde intercepted a loose pass and surged forward before feeding Yamal. The teenage forward shifted inside and dispatched a superb curling finish beyond Iñaki Peña to give Barça the perfect start.
Moments later, the home side struck again. Fermin Lopez, who had been quiet early on, burst through midfield following a slip from Pedrosa and squared for Ferran Torres, who made no mistake from close range to double the lead. Two attacks, two goals — and Barcelona were in total control. Torres nearly added a third shortly after, while Rashford went close as well, forcing Peña into a low save.
Just as it seemed Elche were on the ropes, they found a route back into the contest before half-time. A rapid transition saw Álvaro Núñez feed Rafa Mir in space, and the forward cut inside past Ronald Araújo before guiding a precise finish into the bottom corner. The goal, against the run of play, halved the deficit and offered Elche hope heading into the break.
The visitors began the second half positively, with Mir again going close — first rattling the post after a quick counterattack, and later seeing a curling effort flash narrowly over. For a brief spell, Barcelona looked open and vulnerable, but they soon regained their grip on the game.
The decisive moment came just after the hour mark. Lopez, enjoying one of his best performances in a Barcelona shirt, lofted a perfectly weighted pass toward Marcus Rashford on the right. The Englishman controlled it brilliantly, drove past Pedrosa, and unleashed a thunderous strike that cannoned in off the crossbar — a spectacular finish that sealed the result. Rashford’s goal was his second in La Liga and a reminder of his potency in front of goal when given space to attack.
Barcelona finished with an expected goals tally of 1.94 compared to Elche’s 0.71 — a reflection of their overall control and attacking edge. Lopez, with two assists, was central to everything positive in midfield, while Balde’s energy on the flank and Yamal’s creativity kept Elche’s defence constantly under pressure.
The win brings Barcelona up to within five points of Real Madrid, easing the tension after two defeats in their previous three league games. Flick’s men looked far more balanced and clinical, rediscovering the urgency that has defined their best performances this season.
Elche, who remain winless away from home in La Liga, will take heart from their competitive moments and Mir’s sharp display, but their defensive lapses early on left them chasing throughout. They next host Real Sociedad on Friday evening, while Barcelona turn their attention to Europe with a trip to Club Brugge in the Champions League — a chance to build on the momentum of an important domestic victory.
