Barcelona returned to winning ways on Sunday with a 3–1 victory over Elche at the Olympic Stadium, responding emphatically to last weekend’s Clasico setback.
Goals from Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres, and Marcus Rashford sealed the win, propelling the Catalan side back to second place, five points behind league leaders Real Madrid.
Despite the result, defensive concerns persisted for Hansi Flick’s side, who have now failed to keep a clean sheet in six consecutive La Liga matches amid a string of injuries. Key players Pedri, Gavi, and Joan Garcia were all unavailable, though Robert Lewandowski and Dani Olmo made their returns from the sidelines.
Teenager Yamal, who had struggled in the defeat to Real Madrid, looked revitalized after recovering from a groin injury. He opened the scoring in the ninth minute, finishing clinically past former Barcelona goalkeeper Iñaki Peña after a fine run and pass from Alejandro Balde.
“He has to train, have treatments… it’s coming and going like this, and he has to manage it,” Flick said of Yamal’s ongoing fitness concerns, praising the youngster’s perseverance.
Just minutes later, Ferran Torres doubled Barcelona’s lead, tapping home from Fermin Lopez’s precise cross. Torres celebrated by revealing a shirt paying tribute to victims of last year’s flooding in Valencia, his home region.
Elche, coached by former Barcelona assistant Eder Sarabia, responded valiantly. Rafa Mir halved the deficit before halftime with a composed strike that left Ronald Araujo and Wojciech Szczesny helpless. The forward, who has faced off-field controversies, also struck the woodwork twice as Elche threatened to equalize.
Torres came close to restoring Barca’s two-goal cushion, but Peña’s sharp save denied him. After the break, Mir clipped the crossbar again, testing the hosts’ resolve.
Rashford, however, put the result beyond doubt with a brilliant finish midway through the second half, his second league goal of the season. “I knew he could play on this level and I’m really happy that he showed it,” Flick said of the Englishman’s performance.
Rashford admitted he could have been more clinical but emphasized his focus on teamwork: “Sometimes the decision making to shoot or pass was wrong today, but I am going to have days like this. My focus is with the team, to build relationships and feel comfortable.”
Szczesny was forced into action late on, tipping another Mir strike onto the post as Barca held firm to secure the points.
“We were ourselves and the fans are proud of how we played,” said Sarabia. “It’s normal that they score goals against us, but we could have got some too.”
What you should know
Barcelona defeated Elche 3–1, with goals from Yamal, Torres, and Rashford ensuring a strong comeback after their Clasico loss.
Despite lingering defensive issues and injury woes, Hansi Flick’s side reclaimed second place in La Liga, showing renewed energy and attacking cohesion ahead of their next league fixture.
