FC Barcelona ran riot at the Manuel Martinez Valero as the Catalans recorded a sensational 4-0 win to move 15 points ahead of Real Madrid at the weekend.
Table of contents
FC Barcelona vs Elche Match Preview with Predicted lineup and squad
First Half
Right from the get-go, FC Barcelona started moving the ball around the pitch with their intricate passing and quick transitions trying to open up the Elche defense, but the home side responded well to the pressure of the visitors by organizing their defense, leaving little to no space for a clear cut chance.
Credit: https://twitter.com/MomentNusa/status/1642233306476322817/photo/1
Elche responded with attacks of their own coming close to scoring on several occasions but failing in front of the solid defense of the Catalans.
Ansu Fati and Robert Lewandowski made many threatening runs into the Elche box, but both the attackers failed to capitalize on their chances until at the 20th minute mark when Robert Lewandowski opened the deadlock with rather a sloppy finish. A well taken free kick which headed into the path of Lewandowski by Ronald Araujo gave the Polishman the chance to score his 16th Laliga goal of the season.
Lewandowski is the leading goalscorer of LaLiga in his debut season
FC Barcelona headed into the tunnel at halftime with a narrow 1-0 lead.
Second Half
FC Barcelona continued with the same fire they had on the first half by trying to create more chances to put this game out of Elche’s reach. In the 56th minute Ferran Torres sent Ansu Fati through with a simple pass setting up a decent chance for the Barcelona No.10.
Ansu Fati ran towards the Elche defense reaching the edge of the box and unleashed a powerful low shot which beat Edgar Badia and ended up in the net. Barcelona grabbed a two-goal lead at around the hour mark.
The threat continued as Robert Lewandowski once again found the back of the net in the 66th minute finishing off the chance created by Gavi. The Polish striker recorded his 17th goal of the Laliga season leading the Pichichi trophy in his debut season.
Ferran Torres inflicted further damage in the 70th minute when the Spaniard scored Barça’s 4th goal of the night when he curled his shot into the Elche net securing all three points for FC Barcelona.
The game ended 4-0 giving Marc Andre Ter Stegen another clean-sheet as the German shot-stopper leads the Zamora trophy with 20 clean sheets in 27 games conceding only 9 times.
Our Thoughts
Xavi deployed Eric Garcia as the lone pivot in this match and the Spanish central defender had a good game in a new position that he never played before.
Ansu Fati got his well-deserved goal just days after his father, Bori Fati criticized Xavi and the coaching staff for not giving his son enough game time to make a difference. The smile Fati had after the goal said how much the goal meant to him. It will be a great confidence booster for the youngster in order to prove his haters wrong.
Fati glares into the skies after scoring a screamer outside the box
Ferran Torres had a decent game grabbing an assist and a goal which will massively improve his confidence as well, Robert Lewandowski was exceptional as the Polishman recorded two goals and an assist making him an influential character in the Barcelona attack once again.
Marcos Alonso played a great game alongside Ronald Araujo slotting in for injured Christensen, the spanish defender cleared many dangerous crosses that came into the box and was always on high alert throughout the game.
This win takes FC Barcelona 15 points clear of Real Madrid as of now, there are 11 matches remaining in the season and The Catalans are one step closer for that coverted trophy.
FC Barcelona take on Real Madrid in the Copa Del Rey semi finals 2nd leg in their next match as The Blaugrana are eyeing another cup final by hoping to defeat their arch rivals along the way.
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What are your thoughts on the match?, drop them in the comments section.
