Elche 1 – Barca 2: Los Blaugranas get valuable away win at Estadio Martínez Valero

Elche on home loss to Barcelona at Estadio Martínez Valero on Sunday. Elche were looking forward to meeting again after losing their last game 3-0 to Levante. Barca were hoping to increase their winning streak after back-to-back victories against Athletic Bilbao and Valencia. As the table looks today, Elche and Barca currently occupy 14th and 3rd spots in the league, with 29 points and 48 points respectively after 27 matches.

Elche started strongly in the first half, with Fidel giving ilicitano the lead just before half-time

Barca continued to apply pressure in the second and were rewarded, thanks to a goal from Ferran Torres in the 60th minute. They then scored again, increasing their advantage thanks to a goal from Memphis Depay at the 84 minute mark to make it 2-1.

For Elche, Ezequiel Ponce, Guido Carrillo, Josan, Ivan Marcone and Kike Perez, came on for Tete Morente, Lucas Boye, Fidel, Raúl Guti and Omar Mascarell. Barca brought on Ferran Torres, Nicolas Gonzalez, Memphis Depay, Adama Traore and Sergino Dest, to replace Gavi, Frenkie De Jong, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ousmane Dembele and Dani Alves.

The referee booked Antonio Barragan and Ezequiel Ponce from Elche and Javier Pastore went off with a red card, while Barca’s Ronald Araujo, Ousmane Dembele, Dani Alves, Nicolas Gonzalez, Gerard Pique and Memphis Depay also received a yellow.

Elche will next play Granada away, with Barca facing Osasuna at home.