Barcelona thrash Elche to move 15 points clear

Published on: 01 April 2023

Robert Lewandowski scored his 16th and 17th league goals of the season for Barcelona

Robert Lewandowski scored twice as Barcelona edged closer to a first La Liga title since 2019 with a thumping win at Elche.

The Poland striker opened the scoring with a scuffed finish in the 20th minute and Ansu Fati added the second eight minutes into the second half.

Gavi teed up Lewandowski to score the third and Ferran Torres extended the lead further in the 70th minute.

Barcelona are now 15 points clear of second-placed Real Madrid.

Elche were playing their first match under Sebastian Beccacece - their fourth permanent manager of the season - but after a solid first-half showing lost their way after the break and remain 14 points from safety at the foot of the table.

Lewandowski put Barcelona ahead with their first real chance of the game when Jordi Alba's free-kick was headed down to him by Ronald Araujo and his miskick looped into the far corner.

The La Liga top scorer should have added a second late in the half but headed over from point-blank range.

The hosts' best chance came when Jose Angel Carmona was put clean through only to feel his hamstring go as he burst clear and lose his footing.

Three minutes later, Fati was able to run from inside his own half and drill the ball into the bottom corner as the Elche defence backed off.

Lewandowski made it three with another untidy but effective finish on 66 minutes, before Torres completed the scoring with a curling effort from the edge of the box.

Real Madrid have the chance narrow the gap to 12 points again when they host Real Valladolid on Sunday.

    Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text

Line-upsElche

Formation 4-4-1-1

13Badia14Palacios Zapata6Bigas21Mascarell23Clerc Martínez11Morente Oliva40Carmona20Gumbau Garriga2Blanco16Chaves de la Torre10Milla

    13Badia14Palacios Zapata6Bigas21Mascarell23Clerc Martínez11Morente OlivaSubstituted forFerrández Pomaresat 65'minutes40CarmonaSubstituted forGutiérrez Parejoat 54'minutes20Gumbau Garriga2BlancoSubstituted forFernández Mercauat 65'minutes16Chaves de la Torre10MillaSubstituted forPonceat 76'minutes

Substitutes

    1Werner4González5Verdú7Magallán8Gutiérrez Parejo15Collado Gutiérrez17Ferrández Pomares19Ponce22Fernández Mercau24Lirola26Donald

Barcelona

Formation 4-3-3

1ter Stegen23Koundé4Araújo17Alonso18Alba30Gavi24García20Roberto11F Torres9Lewandowski10Ansu Fati

    1ter Stegen23Koundé4AraújoBooked at 74minsSubstituted forTorreat 78'minutes17Alonso18Alba30GaviBooked at 60minsSubstituted forKessiéat 68'minutes24García20Roberto11F Torres9LewandowskiBooked at 87mins10Ansu FatiSubstituted forGarridoat 84'minutes

Substitutes

    5Busquets13Peña Sotorres19Kessié28Balde29Casadó32Torre36Tenas38Alarcón39Pedrola Fortuny40Garrido

Referee:Carlos del Cerro GrandeAttendance:28,142Match StatsHome TeamElcheAway TeamBarcelonaPossessionHome41%Away59%ShotsHome15Away12Shots on TargetHome2Away6CornersHome11Away3FoulsHome11Away11Live Text Post update

Match ends, Elche 0, Barcelona 4.

90'+3'Full Time

Second Half ends, Elche 0, Barcelona 4.

90'+3'Post update

Attempt missed. Pedro Bigas (Elche) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Nicolás Fernández Mercau with a cross.

90'+2'Post update

Corner, Elche. Conceded by Marc-André ter Stegen.

90'+2'Post update

Attempt saved. Josan (Elche) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Fidel with a through ball.

90'+2'Post update

Attempt blocked. Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Marc-André ter Stegen.

88'Post update

Attempt blocked. Nicolás Fernández Mercau (Elche) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Raúl Guti.

87'Booking

Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

87'Post update

Foul by Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona).

87'Post update

Pedro Bigas (Elche) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

86'Post update

Attempt missed. Raúl Guti (Elche) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Fidel with a cross following a corner.

85'Post update

Corner, Elche. Conceded by Eric García.

85'Post update

Attempt blocked. Raúl Guti (Elche) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

85'Post update

Fidel (Elche) hits the bar with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Josan with a cross.

84'Substitution

Substitution, Barcelona. Aleix Garrido replaces Ansu Fati.

83'Post update

Foul by Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona).

83'Post update

Pedro Bigas (Elche) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

81'Post update

Attempt missed. Clerc (Elche) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.

80'Post update

Attempt missed. Josan (Elche) left footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Nicolás Fernández Mercau with a cross.

78'Post update

Corner, Elche. Conceded by Marcos Alonso.

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Source: bbc.com

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