O Barcelona thrashed Elche this Saturday afternoon, by 4-0, and further increased its advantage in the leadership of the Spanish Championship. Now, the distance of the Catalan team to the second place, Real Madridis 15 points.
The meringues can still reduce this loss if they defeat Real Valladolid this Sunday, at 11:15 am (from Brasilia). In this case, Barça’s advantage would again be 12 points.
The team led by Xavi Hernández won without much difficulty, with two goals from star Lewandowski, one from Ansu Fati and another from Ferrán Torres. The Pole even shot like the top scorer in La Liga, with 17 balls in the net.
On the other hand, the match marked the debut of Argentine coach Sebastián Beccacece at Elche. The team is sunk in the last position of the competition, with only 13 points gained, and is taking big steps towards the Spanish second division.
In search of the national title, Barcelona’s next appointment of the season is against rival Real Madrid, for the second leg of the Copa del Rey semifinal. The derby is scheduled for this Wednesday, at 4pm, at Camp Nou – the first leg ended 1-0 in favor of the culés.
How was the game?
Who was in danger for the first time in the match was Elche. The team arrived with one minute on the clock, with Bigas heading the first post after a corner kick, but Ter Stegen made the save.
Barça held most of the ball possession, but still hadn’t scared the opponent. Until at 19 minutes, Lewandowski took advantage of Araújo’s detour in the area, adjusted with his left leg and corrected a cross kick, in the goalkeeper’s corner, to open the scoring.
At 42, the Polish striker wasted an incredible chance. Ferrán Torres crossed into the small area and the number 9, with a header, sent it over the goal.
Already after halftime, defender Marcos Alonso dominated on the right, after Sergi Roberto’s launch, and kicked left-handed, without an angle, but Badía grabbed it. Elche had the opportunity to equalize in the sequence, when Carmona was launched in a fast counterattack, but lost his balance near the area and fell on the lawn.
Barcelona then took advantage of the mistake to extend the scoreboard. At 10 minutes, the boy Ansu Fati started from the defense and, already at the entrance of the area, pulled to the right and hit hard, crossed, in the corner of Badía.
And Lewandowski scored his second goal at 20, after an error in Elche’s ball output. Gavi won in a split with the opponent and the ball fell to the center forward, in the area, who did not forgive: 3 to 0. There was still time for Ferrán Torres to receive from Lewa and make another one, already in the 24th minute.
Check out other results of the Spanish Championship this Saturday:
Girona 2 x 1 Espanyol
Athletic Bilbao 0 x 0 Getafe
Cadiz 0 x 2 Seville
Source: Gazetaesportiva
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