Barcelona beats Elche 3-1 to stay four points clear in La Liga as Torres and Rashford score
Barcelona retained its lead at the top of La Liga with a 3-1 win away to Elche on Saturday night, a result built on early incision from Lamine Yamal and finished off by Ferran Torres and Marcus Rashford. The victory lifts Barcelona to 55 points, four ahead of second-placed Real Madrid, which plays Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.
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Yamal opened the scoring early, settling Barcelona into a rhythm that soon produced a flurry of chances. The visitors struck the woodwork three times before halftime, twice through Torres, as Elche clung on. The misses proved costly in the short term when Alvaro Rodriguez seized an opportunity to level for the hosts, punishing a rare lapse in Barcelona’s control.
But Torres, undeterred after hitting the frame twice, restored the advantage with a well-taken finish that reflected his persistence on the night. There was a setback when Raphinha was forced off with a groin problem, yet his replacement, Marcus Rashford, made an immediate impact, cutting inside to drive in a right-footed shot in the 71st minute to seal the points.
The pattern of the match underscored Barcelona’s attacking depth. Yamal’s early breakthrough stretched Elche’s back line, Torres’ relentless movement kept chances flowing, and Rashford’s introduction added fresh pace and a clinical edge from the bench. Even with Raphinha’s injury concern, the front line found multiple routes to goal, and the woodwork proved Elche’s most reliable defender until Barcelona’s pressure told.
Beyond the result, the night carries weight in the title race. With Madrid still to play on Sunday, Barcelona’s win ensures it will end the weekend no worse than four points clear and places immediate scoreboard pressure on its closest rival. Every margin matters at this stage, and picking up a composed away victory after conceding a gut-punch equalizer will hearten Barcelona as the schedule tightens.
Elsewhere on Saturday in Spain:
- Atletico Madrid drew 0-0 at Levante, dropping two points in a cagey game overshadowed by concern for striker Alexander Sorloth, who was taken to a hospital following a clash of heads.
- Villarreal shared a 2-2 draw at Osasuna. Gerard Moreno scored from the penalty spot and then with a header from a corner, but the hosts rallied, drawing level through the impressive Victor Munoz.
- Oviedo beat Girona 1-0 for just its third win of the season, snapping a 14-match winless run. Ilyas Chaira tapped in the 73rd-minute winner, a move started by veteran midfielder Santi Cazorla and squared by Thiago Fernandez. Chaira scored against his former club.
- On Friday, Alaves won 2-1 at Espanyol to climb into mid-table and deepen Espanyol’s poor run. On Saturday the club announced the signing of Finnish defender Ville Koski from Croatian side NK Istra until the end of the season.
For Barcelona, Saturday’s performance combined control and resilience. The early breakthrough suggested a comfortable night; the equalizer demanded a response. Torres supplied it, and Rashford turned a solid away display into a statement win. With 55 points in the bank and the lead intact, the message to Madrid is clear: the pace is set — now try to match it.
Real Madrid’s trip to Rayo Vallecano on Sunday offers the weekend’s final twist. However that result lands, Barcelona has done its part: three goals, three points and a four-point cushion that survived an evening in which the crossbar seemed determined to play a starring role.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
