Barca go third as Real prepare for PSG tie with Sociedad romp
Elche took a surprise lead when Fidel capitalised on a Pedri error on the stroke of half-time but Barcelona came storming back thanks to two substitutes
Barcelona moved up to third in La Liga on Sunday ater coming from behind to beat Elche 2-1, with Memphis Depay scoring a late penalty to seal a hard-fought victory.
Elche took a surprise lead at the Martinez Valero when Fidel capitalised on a Pedri error on the stroke of half-time but Barca came storming back thanks to two substitutes.
Ferran Torres diverted in from close range on the hour before Depay scored an 84th-minute penalty ater the striker had drawn Elche’s Antonio Barragan into a handball.
Victory sends Barca two points above Real Betis and three clear of Atletico Madrid in the table, before Betis and Atletico face each other in a crucial batle for the top four later on Sunday.
It also continues an impressive run of form for Xavi Hernandez’s side, who have not lost in the league since December and came into this game on the back of scoring four times in three consecutive games for the first time since 2017.
When Xavi was appointed in November,
Barcelona sat ninth but they might now justifiably have their sights set on Sevilla, who are only seven points ahead in second.
Barcelona had the beter of the chances in the first half, the best of them falling to Frenkie de Jong, who darted in behind but failed to beat Edgar Badia.
Then Ousmane Dembele sprinted clear and his lited shot was parried out to De Jong, whose follow-up was cleared off the line by Diego Gonzalez.
Elche then landed a sucker-punch a minute before half-time as Barca failed to deal with a straight-forward goal-kick downfield and amid the confusion, Pedri poked the ball back, past his own defence and through to Fidel. Fidel took a touch and fired into the far corner.
Barcelona equalised on the hour as they worked the ball from let to right, where Dembele drove to the line and hung up a cross. Jordi Alba was unable to catch the ball cleanly but Torres was perfectly placed to steer in.
Elche were tiring, Barca pushing for a winner and in the 82nd minute they got their chance as Depay wriggled around Barragan, the ball popped up and Barragan instinctively lited his arm to meet it.
The referee consulted the replay, pointed to the spot and Depay swept the penalty into the top corner.
There was more late drama to come, as Alba and Sergio Busquets were both relieved to see penalty claims for handballs waved away before Guido Carrillo headed towards the corner in the 94th minute. Marc-andre ter Stegen dived and Barca held on.
Real Madrid enjoyed the perfect preparation for Paris Saint-germain (PSG) by thrashing Real Sociedad 4-1 on Saturday to move eight points clear at the top of La Liga.
Madrid had to come from behind at the Santiago Bernabeu as two scintillating longrange strikes from Eduardo Camavinga and Luka Modric turned the game on its head, before a Karim Benzema penalty and a tap-in for Marco Asensio completed an emphatic victory.
Camavinga’s strike, his second goal for Madrid, was timely given the 19-year-old may have to start against PSG on Wednesday, with Toni Kroos, absent here, struggling with a hamstring strain.
“Camavinga is definitely an option,” said Madrid coach Carlo Anceloti.
Madrid are tasked with overturning a 1-0 deficit from the first leg in Paris if they are to reach the quarter-finals.
At the end of the game and with the stadium mostly empty, Madrid’s players came back out onto the pitch to salute the ultras behind the goal.
“The thanks to the fans was an idea that came from the players,” said Anceloti. “Ater this game they believe more in what we can do on Wednesday.”
Everything seems easier with the 36-yearold Modric, whose own wonder-goal was the highlight of another mesmeric display, for which he earned a standing ovation from the home crowd in the second half.