Hansi Flick’s side move four points clear of Real Madrid after a hard-fought victory at Martínez Valero.
Barcelona tightened their grip on the La Liga title race with a clinical 3-1 victory over Elche on Saturday night. Despite a spirited performance from the hosts, the individual brilliance of Lamine Yamal and Marcus Rashford ensured the Catalan giants returned to Barcelona with all three points.
First-Half Thriller: Yamal and Ferran Strike
The match began at a frantic pace, with both sides squandering early chances. However, the deadlock was broken by Lamine Yamal, who displayed world-class composure to dribble past the goalkeeper and slot home for 1-0.
Elche responded bravely, finding an equalizer through Álvaro Rodríguez after a swift counter-attack. But the joy for the home fans was short-lived; just minutes later, Ferran Torres restored Barcelona’s lead, capitalizing on a defensive lapse to make it 2-1 before the interval.
Rashford Seals the Win
In the second half, Hansi Flick’s men exerted total control. The decisive moment came in the 72nd minute when Marcus Rashford Barcelona’s high-profile signing found space in the box to fire home the third goal, effectively ending Elche’s hopes of a comeback.
The Race for the Title
With this result, Barcelona move to 55 points, extending their lead over Real Madrid (51 points) to four points. While Los Blancos have a game in hand, the pressure is now firmly on Álvaro Arbeloa’s side to respond in their upcoming clash against Rayo Vallecano.
Match Stats: Elche 1-3 Barcelona
- Goals: Yamal (22′), Rodríguez (34′), Ferran Torres (38′), Rashford (72′).
- Possession: Elche 38% | Barcelona 62%.
- Next Fixture: Barça face Albacete in the Copa del Rey midweek before hosting Mallorca on Saturday.
Miguel Manjate is a football journalist and editor covering the Premier League, European competitions, and transfer news, with a strong focus on match analysis and data-driven reporting.
