Barcelona returned to form with a 3 1 victory over Elche on Sunday, just days after their El Clasico setback. The win helped the club climb back to second place in the league table with 25 points, keeping them five points behind the leaders.
The team started the match with renewed focus, determined to redeem themselves in front of the home fans.
Barcelona took early control of the encounter, scoring twice within the opening 11 minutes after capitalising on two costly defensive errors from Elche. A misplaced pass from David Affengruber allowed Alejandro Balde to drive forward and set up Lamine Yamal, who curled a left footed strike into the top corner. Moments later, Adria Pedrosa lost possession in his own half, giving Fermín Lopez the chance to send in a low cross for Ferran Torres to score the second goal.
Elche managed to pull a goal back just before half time, with former Barcelona academy player Rafa Mir reducing the deficit. Mir found space and fired a well placed effort beyond the goalkeeper to make it 2 1 in the 41st minute. The visitors went into the break with some confidence, knowing they were still in the contest.
The second half saw Elche continue to fight for an equaliser, with Rafa Mir striking the crossbar as they pressed for a comeback. Barcelona responded with more urgency and extended their lead in the 61st minute, as Marcus Rashford held off a defender and finished after connecting with Fermín’s delivery. The effort deflected off the bar on its way into the net, calming the home crowd.
Elche did not give up and came close again when Rafa Mir hit the woodwork for the second time, but Barcelona stood firm to protect their lead. Despite periods of pressure from the visitors, Barcelona’s defence held strong to ensure the win. The result marked an important response following their recent loss and restored confidence within the squad.
Speaking after the match, Ferran Torres reflected on how the team started with intensity, saying “It was very important to start strong and intense. From there, we could take the game where we wanted it to go.” He added that although the team “were a bit off afterwards,” they rediscovered their rhythm in the second half to seal the victory.