After seven games without defeat, FC Barcelona hosted FC Elche. Barça turned around a 0:1 deficit thanks to two joker goals and collected three important points.
Barça got back on track in recent competitive matches and were looking to pick up more important points in the race for Champions League places after their convincing win against Bilbao. Among those starting was Dembelé, who had made a bid for the starting eleven last weekend with three scorers from the bench.
Barça got off to a good start and took control early on. Elche, however, did not sell themselves short and kept up the pace of the favourites – especially Mojica caused Dani Alves a lot of problems with his forays. The Elche left-back then unexpectedly took centre stage in his own build-up when he lost the ball and saved at the last second (17th). FC Barcelona shifted the game against a deep-lying Elche far in front of the opponent’s box and increased the pressure: After Dembelé’s failed lob, Frenkie de Jong’s follow-up shot was cleared on the line (27.).
After this opportunity, the Blaugrana increasingly cut their teeth on the home side’s defence, and highlights on both sides were absent until shortly before the break: But then Tete Morente missed the 1:0 for Elche (38th) and the Dutchman de Jong missed his second big chance for Barça (39th).
Pedri as unexpected forerunner: Fidel scores
The last top-class goal of the first half, however, again resulted in FC Barcelona conceding a goal: Pedri’s winning challenge turned out to be a through pass for Fidel, who scored in a one-on-one against ter Stegen into the right corner (44th).
Ferran Torres equalises
Barça were under pressure at the start of the second period after conceding the goal and upped the tempo. Ferran Torres, a substitute for Gavi, gave the Blaugrana fresh impetus and created danger time and again. But he first made the wrong decision (47th) and then missed from five metres (53rd) before scoring his debut goal in the league in the Barça dress (60th). Before that, Jordi Alba had crossed the ball perfectly to the joker, who only had to push in the ball.
Ferran Torres then had the chance for a double strike, but missed the left cross corner (64th), until ter Stegen was on the spot with a brilliant save on the counterattack and prevented the team from falling behind again (65th). Before the final phase, both teams slowed down a bit and brought fresh personnel onto the pitch.
Handball after VAR intervention: Depay converts
The last minutes were opened by Ferran Torres, who could not convert three top chances into another goal (77th, 78th, 81st). But after a cross from Depay, who was also a substitute, Barça were awarded a handball penalty at the start of the final period: The Dutchman crossed to Barragan, who twitched his arm minimally, beforehand and then converted confidently from the spot into the right angle (84.).
Elche were behind and had their backs to the wall: The home side threw everything forward and also demanded a penalty after Jordi Alba’s handball, but it was not given due to the short distance (88). In injury time, ter Stegen saved a header from a corner for the Blaugrana and held on for the win (90.+5).
The win lifts Barça to third place and extends their unbeaten run to eight games. Barcelona then host Galatasaray Istanbul in the Europa League round of 16 on Thursday.
