The boost that direct qualification to the Champions League knockout stages should’ve given Barcelona had to mean they would have a bit of a spring in their step at the Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero.
Not to mention that they were up against an opponent who had failed to keep a clean sheet in 15 of the last 18 head-to-heads, and who hadn’t beaten the Catalans in the last 24 games - losing 20 of them.
Though Hansi Flick might also have had one eye on the midweek Copa del Rey quarter-final against Albacete, this game represented the chance for the Blaugranes to make a big dent in their goal difference.
Let’s take a look at three talking points from the game…
What a start!
(Photo by JOSE JORDAN / AFP via Getty Images)
(Photo by JOSE JORDAN / AFP via Getty Images)
AFP via Getty Images
It was only in this last column that I was bemoaning the fact that Barca hadn’t started another game well enough.
Copenhagen felt like many other matches, where the Catalans just gave the impression that all they had to do was turn up and they’d get the job done with ease.
They were fortunate to turn that one around, but it was totally different at Elche.
For a start, the Blaugranes were at it from the first whistle, and could’ve scored at least once before Lamine did find the net in the sixth minute.
The way in which the visitors kept hunting down their opponent, chasing lost causes and looking much more like a team challenging for honours on all fronts, was a joy to watch.
When on song, Barca are the game’s great entertainers, but sometimes it’s just good to see the right work ethic, even if the amount of goals wasn’t reflected by the dominance of the first 45.
Barcelona were wasteful in front of goal
(Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
(Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Just like against Real Sociedad, chance after chance went begging.
Similarly to their game at the Reale Arena, Barca hit the woodwork on a number of occasions, but they still had 25 shots in San Sebastian, and some were decent chances that were missed.
Against Elche, no player should escape Hansi Flick’s wrath.
Ferran Torres, Fermin Lopez, Raphinha, Marcus Rashford and others… they were all guilty of poor finishing and could’ve put the game to bed long before the Englishman hammered home with 20 to play.
Against better teams, with respect, they’ll be punished.
Lamine is the creator in chief
(Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
(Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Lamine Yamal is Barca’s biggest and best talent in years. The things that this kid can do on a football pitch at his age are simply mind-blowing and, frankly, unbelievable.
He scored a brilliant goal against Elche which means he now has 23 goals in 91 LaLiga appearances. Those numbers mean he’s equalling the most by a player under the age of 19 in Europe’s top five leagues in the 21st century, previously set by Kylian Mbappé.
Yamal wasn’t finished there either as he went on to create a whole host of chances for his team-mates.
The teenager’s performance meant he walked off with another MVP award and praise from Alejandro Balde ringing in his ears: “Expectations for Lamine are very high. People forget he’s only 18. He’s having an incredible season.”