Mansion Sports – Barcelona secured an important 3-1 victory over Elche in Week 11 of the 2025/2026 La Liga season at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. 

The three goals for the Catalan side were scored by Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres, and Marcus Rashford, while Rafa Mir netted the only goal for Elche.

The result highlighted the attacking sharpness of Hansi Flick’s frontline, which displayed remarkable efficiency in front of their home fans. 

Although Barcelona did not completely dominate possession, they made the most of their opportunities and effectively contained the visitors’ attempts to fight back under the guidance of coach Eder Sarabia.

With this victory, Barcelona now have 25 points from 11 matches, reclaiming second place in the La Liga standings and closing in on leaders Real Madrid. Meanwhile, Elche remain in ninth position with 14 points.

First Half: Yamal and Torres Give Barcelona an Early Lead

The game began at a rapid pace, with Barcelona immediately asserting pressure from the opening minutes. 

Their early dominance paid off in the 9th minute when Elche lost possession near their own penalty area. 

Alejandro Balde surged forward on the left flank and delivered a precise cross that Lamine Yamal calmly slotted into the far corner to make it 1-0 for the hosts.

Just three minutes later, Barcelona doubled their advantage. A defensive error from Adrià Pedrosa was quickly punished as Fermin Lopez intercepted the ball, advanced through midfield, and found Ferran Torres, who finished confidently to extend the lead to 2-0.

Barcelona controlled the flow of the game with ease, as Marcus Rashford continued to threaten down the left wing with his pace and direct runs, though his finishing lacked precision in several attempts.

Elche gradually regained composure and began to build momentum, primarily through Rafa Mir, who was a constant presence in the attacking third.

In the 39th minute, Ferran Torres once again tested Inaki Peña, but the Elche goalkeeper produced an excellent save.

Elche finally reduced the deficit in the 42nd minute. Alvaro Nunez led a swift counterattack before supplying a precise pass to Rafa Mir, who fired a low shot past Wojciech Szczesny into the bottom corner, making it 2-1.

Before halftime, Barcelona had two clear opportunities to restore their two-goal cushion. Torres came close to scoring his second, but Peña made another fine save, while Yamal’s attempt in stoppage time went over the bar. The first half ended with Barcelona leading 2-1.

Second Half: Rashford’s Strike Seals the Win

Elche looked to surprise the hosts early in the second half, as Rafa Mir unleashed a shot that narrowly missed the target. 

Barcelona responded quickly with a counterattack that almost resulted in a third goal, but Rashford was unable to convert Torres’ through pass.

The visitors created two back-to-back chances through Andre Silva and Rafa Mir. In the 54th minute, Mir nearly equalized after receiving a cross inside the box, but his effort sailed just over the crossbar, allowing Barcelona to maintain their lead.

In the 66th minute, Hansi Flick made a tactical change by bringing on Dani Olmo for Fermin Lopez to improve control in midfield. 

The substitution proved decisive, as Barcelona regained composure and rhythm in possession shortly after.

The decisive third goal came in the 61st minute. Lopez delivered a curling cross toward Marcus Rashford, who skillfully evaded Pedrosa and unleashed a powerful right-footed shot. The ball struck the underside of the crossbar before crossing the line, extending Barcelona’s lead to 3-1 to the delight of the home supporters.

After securing the advantage, Barcelona shifted to a more controlled tempo, prioritizing stability and ball retention. 

Robert Lewandowski, making his return from injury, replaced Rashford in the 74th minute. Elche continued to push forward through Rafa Mir, but none of their chances were converted into goals.

In the final stages, Flick introduced young talents Roony Bardghji and Dro Fernandez to gain experience. 

Despite Elche’s late efforts to narrow the gap, the final whistle confirmed a 3-1 victory for Barcelona. The result extended their unbeaten run against Elche to 22 consecutive matches.

Match Statistics: Barcelona vs Elche