Messi-Fewer Barca Climb To Third Spot
25 January, 2021
LaLiga
Result: Elche 0-2 FC Barcelona
Date: 24 January 2021
Venue: Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero
FC Barcelona, who were without Lionel Messi, moved into third put on the LaLiga standings with a 2-0 victory away at Elche on Sunday.
Barca were still without Lionel Messi as he served the ultimate video game of his two-meet suspension following his dismissal against Athletic Bilbao. Marc Andre Ter Stegen, Samuel Umtiti, Jordi Alba, Frenkie de Jong, Sergio Busquets, Pedri and Ousmane Dembele arrived to the Barca area as Ronald Koeman produced seven changes.
With five minutes gone, Dembele whipped in a corner to the near post and Ronald Araujo stooped to head it wide. Immediately after, Dembele's free-kick was met by Antoine Griezmann on the penalty location, however the header was direct at Edgar Badia.
Elche almost took a surprise lead found in the 19th minute. Johan Mojica clipped a ball in to the field, Raul Guti ghosted among two defenders but flicked his header off the bar.
On the half-hour tag, Barca gained a corner that your hosts cleared but it dropped to the border of the region for Jordi Alba to hit wide with a first-time effort.
The Blaugrana took the lead with 5 minutes to go before half-time. A cross came in from the still left from Martin Braithwaite, it looked like Griezmann was getting on the finish of it but Elche defender Diego Gonzalez trapped a leg out and diverted the ball towards his own net with De Jong on hand to score a straightforward tap-in.
Ten minutes after the interval, the visitors gave the ball away environment Emiliano Rigona free in goal, however the left-footed strike was brilliantly maintained away by Ter Stegen.
At the other end, Dembele worked a yard on the border of the area but his thumping hit was kept out by Edgar Badia.
In the 83rd minute, Busquets performed Trincao in behind the Elche defence down the right flank. He cut inside to shoot on his kept foot, but Edgar Badia produced an excellent end to palm the ball from goal.
Riqui Puig replaced Pedri for the closing stages of the contest and immediately made a direct effect, netting in the 89th minute after De Jong clipped a cross to the trunk post that your youngster nodded home.
Source: www.soccerladuma.co.za