Elche 0-4 Barca: Xavi's side storm into 15 point LaLiga lead

Elche 0-4 Barcelona: Xavi’s side storm into 15-point lead at the top of LaLiga after convincing win, With Robert Lewandowski bagging a brace to take his season tally to 17 league goals as Ansu Fati and Ferran Torres also made the scoresheet

 He hasn’t lost it. Ansu Fati scored against Elche, his first goal in the league in five and a half months and it was a reminder of his gift for the gorgeous finish.

The game was almost an hour old and Barcelona had a 1-0 goal advantage after Robert Lewandowski’ first half strike.

At the end of a tumultuous week for Fati in which his father Bori had protested in a long and explosive radio interview that he deserved more respect and minutes on the pitch, he was picked to start.

His first half was shocking – a complete vindication of the way he has been pushed down the pecking order this season. His touch was off and he posed no threat to the worst defence in La Liga.

But on 56 minutes his chance came. Ferran Torres played the ball forward to him and he carried it forward to the edge of the area from where he buried a low shot past Edgar Badia and into the far corner.

There was a broad smile as he was mobbed by delighted team-mates. It was his seventh goal of the season and worthy of the number 10 he has worn on his back since Lionel Messi left the club.

The goal was sandwiched by Lewandowski strikes. After pressure from Jules Kounde and Gavi won the ball back for Barcelona the Pole took his chance well.

There were 55 points between the two teams before the game and 58 after 90 minutes with the gulf between a team doomed to relegation and the champions in waiting was huge.

Barcelona were 1-0 up after 20 minutes. Ronald Araujo headed a corner from the right down and Lewandowski sent it through the crowd into the far corner. It was not the cleanest strike with the ball hitting his standing left foot after it left his shooting right foot, but it was 16th league goal of the season and it put Barcelona in control of the game.

They had two chances to extend their lead but Lewandowski headed over from Ferran Torres’ cross and Kounde’s shot from Gavi’s cross was blocked.

Gerard Gumbau warmed Marc Andre ter Stegen with a shot at the start of the second half. Jose Angel Carmona then sprinted clear onto a long throw ball and honed in on Ter Stegen’s goal. 

He had sprinted from inside his own half but was stumbling once he reached the area and when his hamstring gave way it wasn’t just the end of the chance but the end of his participation in the game.

If that marathon sprint had come to nothing the next brought a goal for Ansu. After Lewandowski got his 17th of the season and Torres then scored his six of the season to make it 4-0.

The three points for Barcelona send them 15 points clear of Real Madrid ahead of their meeting with Valladolid on Sunday. They are on course for the title and Ansu may finally have joined the party.

MATCH FACTS

Elche: Badia, Lautaro, Bigas, Milla (Ponce, 76) Morente (Parejo, 65), Palacios, Fidel, Gumbau, Cler (Pomares, 65), Carmona

Unused subs: Werner, Gonzalez, Verdu, Magallan, Gutierrez, Mercau, Lirola, Donald

 Manager: Sebastian Beccacece

 Barcelona: Ter Stegen, Araujo (Torre 78), Lewandowski, Fati (Garrido, 84), Ferran, Alonso, Alba, Roberto, Kounde, Garcia, Gavi (Kessie, 68)

Unused subs: Busquets, Sotorres,  Balde, Casado, Tenas, Alarcon, Fortuny

Goals: Lewandowski (20, 66), Fati (56), Gavi (66)

Bookings: Araujo, Gavi 

Manager: Xavi

 Referee: Carlos del Cerro Grande

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