BARCA ABLE TO NIC GLORY
Gonzalez nets late on to bring Xavi some cheer
NICO GONZALEZ rescued Barcelona with a late winner to squeeze past struggling Elche last night.
Xavi’s men ended their three-game winless run in all competitions to earn a vital and much-needed morale-boosting La Liga win.
Ferran Jutgla headed in an opener for the hosts after 16 minutes before teen Gavi grabbed his first league goal with a solo strike.
Substitutes Tete Morente and Pere Milla then stunned the hosts as Elche scored twice in as many minutes to draw level.
But sub Gonzalez poked into the top corner five minutes from time to win it.
Despite the win, Xavi’s side sit seventh and a whoppping 15 points behind leaders Real Madrid, who host Cadiz tonight.
Barca had failed to win their previous three outings, with a 2-2 draw at Osasuna last Sunday following defeats to Bayern
Munich in the Champions League and Real Betis in La Liga.
Jutgla saw an effort ruled out for offside inside 90 seconds, but the summer signing did not have to wait long for his first goal at the Nou Camp, nodding in Ousmane Dembele’s corner.
Gavi grabbed a second three minutes later, flicking the ball through his legs on the turn and running at the defence, before the 17-year-old found the bottom corner for a stunning finish.
But Barca fell apart in the second half, conceding twice in two minutes as first Morente fired in and then Milla headed in at the back post.
It was an inspired double change from boss Francisco Rodriguez, who saw the subs score within five minutes of being brought on.
Elche looked to have earned a hard-fought point only for Gonzalez to have the final say.
Elsewhere, Villarreal beat Real Sociedad 3-1 while Rayo Vallecano won 2-0 against Alaves.