Barcelona returned to winning ways in La Liga with a well-deserved 3-1 triumph over Elche on Sunday, bouncing back from last weekend’s painful El Clásico loss to Real Madrid. Goals from Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres, and Marcus Rashford propelled the reigning champions back into second place, closing the gap to five points behind league leaders and fierce rivals Real Madrid.
The victory at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in Barcelona not only restored confidence but also highlighted the team’s ongoing offensive strength despite growing concerns around their defensive vulnerabilities.
Strong Start for Barcelona as Rising Star Lamine Yamal Shines
Just nine minutes into the match, Barcelona found their breakthrough. Young sensation Lamine Yamal—who faced criticism after an underwhelming performance in El Clásico—showed his brilliance after receiving a precise ball from Alejandro Balde. Yamal took a composed touch inside the box before curling a clinical finish past former Barcelona goalkeeper Iñaki Peña. The goal ignited the home crowd and gave Barcelona the early momentum they needed.
Shortly after, Ferran Torres doubled the lead in the 12th minute. A fast counterattack saw Fermin Lopez break free down the left flank before delivering a perfect cross for Torres to tap in from close range. The forward marked his goal with a heartfelt tribute on his shirt, honoring the one-year anniversary of the devastating floods in his home region of Valencia.
Elche Battle Back, But Defensive Errors Cost Them
Elche, under the leadership of former Barcelona assistant coach Eder Sarabia, showed character and refused to sit back. Rafa Mir, their star striker, gave the visitors a fighting chance with a composed finish just before halftime. Taking advantage of Barcelona’s high defensive line, Mir received the ball in his own half before bending a low strike past both Ronald Araujo and goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny. The goal gave Elche belief heading into the break.
Despite creating more scoring opportunities, including a brilliant fingertip save by Szczęsny and two attempts off the woodwork, Elche struggled to capitalize in the second half.
Marcus Rashford Seals the Win
Marcus Rashford, brought in to bolster Barcelona’s attack this season, delivered once again in the second half. After a perfectly timed cross from Lopez, Rashford controlled the ball and fired a precise shot into the bottom corner for his second La Liga goal of the campaign. The finish restored a comfortable lead and allowed Barcelona to see out the match, despite some late pressure from Elche and another Mir effort that hit the post.
Ferran Torres summed up the game perfectly in a post-match interview:
“It was very important to start strong and intense. We knew the type of game they were going to play, and we started very strong. We lost some of our rhythm after that, but we regained our intensity in the second half.”
Barcelona’s Defensive Questions Remain Ahead of a Difficult Stretch
Despite the victory, Hansi Flick’s side has now gone six consecutive league matches without a clean sheet, reflecting a deeper defensive issue compounded by several key injuries. The absence of stars like Pedri, Gavi, and goalkeeper Joan García has forced Flick to rely heavily on rotation and returning players like Robert Lewandowski and Dani Olmo.
With a challenging schedule ahead, including Champions League duties and pressure from teams like Girona and Atlético Madrid, Barcelona must tighten their defense to maintain their title challenge.
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