Barcelona gets back up after the Clasico: 3-1 at Elche and second place behind Real

Barcelona recovers from the defeat at the Bernabeu, beats Elche 3-1 and remains -5 behind Real Madrid, defending second position from Villarreal’s attack. It is the twelfth consecutive victory against an opponent who however created several problems for Flick’s team, with a goal, a crossbar and a post from the wild Rafa Mir. In Barça Lamine Yamal was intermittent despite the initial goal and a brilliant Fermín Lopez, author of two assists to Ferran Torres and Marcus Rashford.

QUICK ONE-TWO

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For Flick two changes compared to the Clásico, one forced, Casadò for Pedri, out for a month, the other tactical: Araujo for Cubarsí. Elche is not afraid of anything, but its cheekiness is quickly punished: between the 9th and 12th minute Barça goes 2-0 with Lamine Yamal’s first goal in La Liga since 31 August, a sharp dribble on Nuñez and a typical left-footed return after a recovery and a great cut from Balde, and Ferran Torres’ 50th goal in 170 games for Blaugrana, propitiated from an unfortunate slip by Pedrosa and a great run by Fermín.

GOAL AND CROSSBOARD

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Elche did not lose their composure and in the 42nd minute took advantage of the usual very high and incomplete Blaugrana defense to launch Rafa Mir: two attackers against two defenders, the former Valencia player burns Araujo and Szczesny with a magnificent left-footed shot to the far post. The regenerated Rafa Mir has scored 4 goals in these Liga games, more than the 3 scored in the last two championships, and 10′ into the second half he chipped the crossbar with another right-footed shot from the left.

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Barcelona catch their breath thanks to the great class of their interpreters: perfect throw from Casadò to Fermin who from the right serves Rashford to the left with a perfect throw made with his three fingers. For the Englishman, control, sharp dribbling with his right foot to plant Pedrosa and a thunderbolt with his left foot for the 3-1. The Englishman is the Blaugrana who has been involved in the most goals this season: 6 goals and 6 assists. Szczesny performed a miracle by deflecting another shot from the wild Rafa Mir onto the post, Dani Olmo and Lewandowski, absent for a few weeks, entered the field and Barça took home a hard-working and fundamental victory.