Barcelona will finish the weekend in second place in the La Liga table and five points off the top thanks to a hard-fought 3-1 win over Elche at the Montjuïc Olympic Stadium on Sunday evening. The newly-promoted side put up a good fight on the road despite conceding two early goals via Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres and found a way back in the game before halftime, but Marcus Rashford restored Barça’s two-goal lead in the second half and sealed the three points as the Blaugrana returned to winning ways after last week’s defeat in El Clasico.
Reactions & Observations
- Barça’s strategy in their first game without Pedri against a team that likes to press was clear: forget midfield control and play direct, intense, fast transition football using long balls and high pressing to create chances. The first two goals came in that manner, and several other opportunities materialized exactly that way.
- Fermín López and Marc Casadó were everywhere and their energy was infectious. That was the best pressing we’ve seen from Barça as a team this season, and the two Under Armour-wearing midfielders were at the heart of it.
- Fantastic first half by Alejandro Balde. He looked like Nuno Mendes in the first goal with the way he won the ball back and carried it all the way through the middle before assisting Lamine Yamal, and some of his recovery runs and tackles were perfectly timed. His best performance in a while.
- I for the life of me cannot understand why Barça’s line was positioned so high on the move that led to Elche’s goal, especially with Ronald Araujo trying to play an offside trap against a player who was in his own half. There’s only five minutes to go and you’re in full control; why take such a risk and let Elche back in the game? Poor situational awareness still kills this team.
- Barça really missed Pedri at the start of the second half. With the score at 2-1 they desperately needed to keep the ball away from Elche and resist the press, but failed to do so and allowed the game to become too open in the first 15 minutes of the final period.
- For the first half-hour, absolutely nothing went right for Marcus Rashford. He killed countless promising attacks with bad decision after bad decision, and his finishing was well below par. Until he received an absolutely filthy assist from Fermín and fired a rocket into the net off the crossbar. What a goal.
- Seriously, the pass by Fermín to find Rashford was exceptional. Incredible technique.
- Good to see Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski return from injury and youngster Dro Fernández and Roony Bardghji get a few good minutes with the game decided.
- Seriously, Jules Kounde needs a rest. His decision-making is clearly impacted by the fatigue, and he’s not nearly explosive as he was last season. Just one game on the bench, please. It’ll make a big difference.
