Yamal and Torres Shine as Barcelona Secure Vital 3-1 Win at Elche

ALICANTE, Spain — FC Barcelona continued their relentless pursuit of the La Liga title on Saturday night, overcoming a spirited Elche side with a hard-fought 3-1 victory at the Estadio Martínez Valero. While the scoreline reflects a comfortable margin, the match was a tense affair until the final whistle, with the hosts briefly threatening an upset in a frantic first half.

A Lightning Start

Hansi Flick’s side wasted no time asserting their dominance. Just six minutes into the contest, the 18-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal silenced the home crowd. Capitalizing on a perfectly weighted through-ball from Dani Olmo, Yamal danced past goalkeeper Joan García and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner. It was Yamal's third goal in as many games, further cementing his status as the most dangerous teenager in world football.

Elche Strikes Back

Despite the early setback, Elche—coached by former Barça assistant Eder Sarabia—refused to retreat. In the 29th minute, the Martínez Valero erupted when Álvaro Rodríguez broke clear of the Blaugrana defense. The former Real Madrid youth product showed great composure to finish past Wojciech Szczęsny, drawing the hosts level and capitalizing on a rare lapse in concentration from the Barcelona backline.

Ferran Restores the Lead

The parity didn't last long. Barcelona regained their composure and began to suffocate Elche with high-intensity pressing. In the 40th minute, Frenkie de Jong produced a moment of individual brilliance, weaving through the midfield before finding Ferran Torres in the box. Torres, making his first start since returning from a minor injury, pivoted and struck a clinical shot into the far corner to make it 2-1.

The goal marked a milestone for Torres, being his 50th career goal for the club across all competitions.

Rashford Seals the Points

The second half saw Elche press for an equalizer, with Rafa Mir hitting the woodwork twice in a ten-minute span. Barcelona’s defense, anchored by Jules Koundé and Eric García, weathered the storm before Hansi Flick turned to his bench.

In the 61st minute, second-half substitute Marcus Rashford put the game to bed. Receiving a cross from Fermín López, Rashford held off his marker and fired a powerful left-footed strike off the underside of the crossbar. The goal took the wind out of Elche’s sails and allowed Barcelona to manage the closing stages with ease.

League Implications

The win ensures Barcelona maintains a four-point lead over Real Madrid at the top of the table. With the Champions League Round of 16 on the horizon, Flick expressed his satisfaction with the team’s "mental resilience" after a challenging week.

Final Score: Elche 1-3 FC Barcelona

Scorers: - Elche: Álvaro Rodríguez (29')

• Barcelona: Lamine Yamal (6'), Ferran Torres (40'), Marcus Rashford (61')

Next Match: Barcelona travels to face Albacete in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals on Tuesday, February 3.