Barcelona feasted on Elche this Sunday in matchday 2 of La Liga at the Martínez Valero. In the first half, Raphinha put the Blaugrana ahead with a penalty he himself earned. The Brazilian received the ball at the edge of the box, drove into the area, and with a feint got past Víctor Chust, who fouled the forward and conceded the penalty. After the goal, the match gradually lost intensity, but just before halftime Adeyemi appeared to score the 0-2 and put some distance between the teams. In the second half, the Blaugrana controlled the ball without risking losing possession that could expose the defense to counterattacks. However, Flick’s substitutions revolutionized the game, especially the introduction of Gordon. The Englishman provided two assists in just six minutes on the pitch. First to Raphinha and then to Fermín, who later completed his brace to make it 0-5.
Read more Feijóo delves into the «public health crisis» in Ceuta
La Liga
The Flick brand prevails at Barça, which crushes Elche in their league debut
The Blaugrana score heavily after an excellent display of accuracy and generosity led by Raphinha’s versatility and Gordon’s generosity with Lamine Yamal as a spectator.
Read the full report here.
“The match is easy or difficult depending on us. They like to have the ball but we have done very well from the start of the game. The result doesn’t say much about how the match was, Elche is a good team but the heat has affected a lot.”
End of the match at Martínez Valero!
Barcelona feasts on Elche in their league debut thanks to a brace from Raphinha, another from Fermín, and a goal from Adeyemi who started. Gordon came on in the second half and provided two assists in six minutes on the pitch.
0-5.
Ponce’s shot into the hands of Joan García
Elche wants their goal before the end. Ponce shot at Joan García, but his shot went straight into the hands of the Blaugrana goalkeeper.
Gordon’s shot caught by Dituro
Another ball received by the Englishman behind the defense and this time he decided to shoot, but it was soft into Dituro’s hands.
Last substitution for Elche
Redondo leaves and Pedro Bigas comes on.
FERMÍN’S BRACE!
Barcelona’s fifth arrives! Elche is broken and even the hydration break couldn’t fix the gap. Now Fermín received a pass from Xavi Espart at the edge of the box, quickly turned to shake off Redondo, and did not fail in the one-on-one against Dituro.
0-5.
BARCELONA’S FOURTH!
Barcelona is now unleashed! After a second half start of mere control and few chances, the substitutions have revolutionized the team. Again Gordon with a run went one-on-one with Dituro and passed to Fermín who scored easily.
0-4.
Buonanotte hits the post!
The Argentine midfielder shot from the edge of the area and his shot hit the post.
New substitution for Elche
Fer Niño leaves and Ponce comes on.
GOAL FOR BARCELONA!
Raphinha’s second arrives! Good action by Gordon who passes to the Brazilian and he beats Dituro with a low shot to the near post. Barcelona seals the match.
0-3.
And substitutions from Flick too
Lamine and Adeyemi leave; Olmo and Gordon come on.
Triple substitution for Elche
Morente, Houary, and Aguado leave; Cepeda, Neto, and Buonanotte come on.
Barcelona tries to slow the game down
Flick’s team is comfortable with the 0-2 and is in no hurry. Some forays from Adeyemi on the left and Lamine on the right timidly threaten Elche, who cannot keep possession for long.
Great cross from Morente caught by Joan García
Beautiful strong cross into the area from Morente caught by Joan García with a great save. Fer Niño was licking his lips to score.
High shot from Lamine
Ball from Adeyemi to Lamine at the edge of the area and the Spanish winger shot first time under pressure from the defense, but his curling shot went high.
Raphinha had a chance to seal it!
Ball from Lamine into space for Raphinha, who alone against Dituro miscontrolled the ball and it ended up in the goalkeeper’s hands.
Second half begins!
Barcelona puts the ball in play.
End of the first half at Martínez Valero!
The first half ends in Elche with Barcelona holding a good cushion for the second half. The Blaugrana took the lead with a penalty goal from Raphinha and Adeyemi extended the lead just before halftime.
0-2.
GOAL FOR BARCELONA!
Adeyemi scores his first for Barcelona on his debut and puts some distance in the match just before halftime.
0-2.
Gavi leaves injured
Flick uses a substitution window and Pedri comes on for Gavi. Four minutes of added time for the first half to end.
Read more Israel tells Hamas it will intensify its bombings if kite launches from Gaza do not stop
Gavi complains about his right leg
The Blaugrana midfielder made a hard challenge a few minutes ago and got hurt. He tried to continue but won’t be able to. Flick will use a substitution window.
Adeyemi’s shot goes wide
The German’s first action in the match. He entered the area, shifted onto his left foot, and took a shot that went wide.
Houary had a chance!
Great pass from Gonzalo Villar behind the defense that Houary tried to volley but failed to connect.
Yellow card for Houary
Card for the Elche player for a hold that stopped a Blaugrana counterattack.
The match takes a breather with the hydration break
The match stops for the hydration break. The pace has dropped a bit in these last minutes, let’s see how the remaining 15 minutes of the first half resume.
Fer Niño had a chance!
Great play by Buba Sangaré down the right wing that ends with a through pass to Fer Niño, but the forward was a bit slow and Eric García anticipated to clear.
Elche takes a step back after conceding
Barcelona now dominates possession against an Elche that has dropped deeper after conceding the penalty goal.
GOAL FOR BARCELONA!
Raphinha scores the penalty! A very tight shot to the base of the post where Dituro can’t reach. Barcelona takes an early lead despite the balanced match.
0-1.
Penalty for Barcelona!
Raphinha received the ball at the edge of the box, drove into the area, and with a feint got past Víctor Chust, who fouled the Brazilian and conceded the penalty.
Very balanced match so far
Neither team controls the match. Barcelona manages the ball a bit more, but Elche does not give up possession and presses.
Lamine’s shot goes over!
Ball from Eric García to Lamine Yamal behind the defense who is alone against Dituro, but his toe-poked shot goes high. Still, it seemed offside. The first chance for Barcelona.
Elche presses high in these early moments
The Ilicitano team is very bold at the start with good pressure on Barcelona’s build-up.
Match begins at Martínez Valero!
Elche puts the ball in play.
La Liga
The new Barcelona starts the league incomplete
The Blaugrana club, which according to Flick has “top” reinforcements, is still waiting to finalize the signing of a forward.
Read the full preview here.
There is also an Anselmi starting eleven!
Only one change in Elche’s starting lineup compared to the match against Deportivo: Neto out and Morente in.
XI: Dituro; Buba, Affengruber, Redondo, Chust, Valera; Villar, Aguado, Ali Houary; Morente and Niño.
Hansi Flick’s starting eleven is out!
Christensen will play in central defense and Xavi Espart will be left back. In midfield are Gavi and Marc Bernal, and Adeyemi debuts up front.
XI: Joan García; Eric García, Christensen, Gerard Martín, Espart; Gavi, Bernal, Fermín; Lamine Yamal, Adeyemi and Raphinha.
Good evening and welcome to the live coverage of Elche-Barcelona!
Hansi Flick’s team, who did not play the first match due to the delayed return of their players from the World Cup, make their season debut against an Ilicitano side that drew against Deportivo in their opener (1-1).
Read more Missing Spanish businessman after falling from his boat between Italy and Greece
