Barça recovers its forwards and thrashes the bottom team

taketonews

see to Ansu Fati smile but, above all, seeing him score a goal was the best news Barça received in Elche, where they obtained a long-awaited victory because it was the home of the bottom as a deterrent before the new, fifth and last confrontation of Madrid in the Cup on Wednesday. They will receive their rival with the advantage intact in the League -it was extended to 15 points-, without showing a minimum sign of weakness as in the first leg, when they traveled to the Bernabéu after losing in Almería.

Ansu scored, Lewandowski scored and Ferran scored. Those who had to score scored, although the three were short of joy, in streaks almost inappropriate for forwards with goals, as they had proven in the past. Ferran was the most stressed, because the curse was chasing him since October. Since then he has not scored in the Ansu League either, who scored a goal in January in the Cup. Barça retaliated by thrashing the evicted Elche, from whom they were separated by a gap of 55 points (68 to 13).

The drawback of playing without five headlines It did not prevent Barça from taking another step towards the title, much more apparent and beautiful, also forced to take it against a doomed rival. Elche was the most thrashed and the three depressed forwards quenched their thirst.

Eric, the new midfielder

But at the same time, Xavi recovered Eric, who is not a striker but also needs pampering. He recovered him by lighting him up as a midfielder, convinced of his viability after testing him in the Sant Joan Despí test tube. Testing the experiment of giving the baton to the central defender from Martorell, the coach acquired another useful resource, losing Eric’s battle to play his role as central defender (only three starts in 21 games since the World Cup). Christensen and Marcos they have made his life impossible; The Dane was absent due to injury, the first relay was from Madrid.

A larger magnifying glass hung over Ansu after the irruption of his father asking for more minutes for the child. The attention generated amplified his work. If he was not a regular starter it was for a reason, and he was seen on the pitch. He vindicated himself with the goal, the yardstick for the forwards, in an increasing performance as the game progressed, such that he was acquiring rhythm. He didn’t finish it. he replaced him Alex Garrido, another relief squad.

Araujo gives passes

Elche made many defensive errors as soon as they broke out in the second half. He knew how to contain the Catalans in the initial phase with tight markings and tolerating that Araujo will start the game. With his head raised, he dared to make perpendicular passes that provided verticality, essential against an opponent who crowded his men in the center.

Barça maintained the trend of stretch to the left side Even the winger function despite bringing together the three points. Ansu was focused, where it is more difficult to shine due to the lack of space and time to play. Araujo drew attention; Eric did not dare so much, concerned about not perpetrating losses that would snip a future continuity as an alternative to Busquets, De Jong and Sergi Roberto, predecessors in the central circle.

The Catalans did not know what they could expect from an Elche that He released his fourth coach. They found a conventional team, more motivated to please the coach and to show off against Barça, freed from the pressure to reach salvation, already unattainable.

Two very different races

Sober and just enough strength, Barça’s objective was going to consist of hitting once and not missing any in each goal. If the 1-0 has condemned so many First teams, how could it not be enough to execute the last one. The 0-1 relaxed the Catalans, who allowed their rivals to stay alive in the game. Any neglect could cost dearly and a Carmona race very poorly defended, it was a very clear warning.

Carmona broke in that furious sprint that was leading him to glory. Four minutes later, Ansu made that same run with more serenity, less energy, and finished it off with an easy shot and without opposition, unleashing smiles from all the culés. Starting with his father Bori.

The match sheet:

Elche:Edgar (4); Palacios (4), Bigas (3), Mascarell (3), Clerc (5); Morente (4), Carmona (5), Gumbau (7), Lautaro (5); Pere Milla (4), Fidel (3). Coach: Sebastián Beccacece (5). Changes: Guti (4) for Carmona (m. 54); Nico (5) by Lautaro (m. 65); Josan (5) by Morente (d. 65); Ponce (4) for Mile (m. 76).

Barcelona: Ter Stegen (6); Koundé (4), Araujo (7), Marcos (6), Alba (5); Gavi (7), Eric (7), Sergi Roberto (6); Ferran (6), Lewandowski (8), Ansu Fati (7). Coach: Xavi Hernandez (7). Changes: Kessie (4) for Gavi (m. 68); Pablo Torre (sc) by Araujo (d. 78); Aleix Garrido (sc) by Ansu (d. 84).

goals: 0-1 (m. 20), Lewandowski; 0-2 (m. 56), Ansu Fati; 0-3 (m. 66), Lewandowski; 0-4 (m. 70), Ferran.

Referee: Del Cerro Grande (6), from Madrid.

cards: Gavi (d. 60), Araujo (d. 74), Lewandowski (d. 87).

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Stadium: Martinez Valero.

spectators: 28,142.



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