"For a start, the Blaugranes were at it from the first whistle, and could've scored at least once before Lamine did find the net in the sixth minute. The way in which the visitors kept hunting down their opponent, chasing lost causes and looking much more like a team challenging for honours on all fronts, was a joy to watch."
"Similarly to their game at the Reale Arena, Barca hit the woodwork on a number of occasions, but they still had 25 shots in San Sebastian, and some were decent chances that were missed. Against Elche, no player should escape Hansi Flick's wrath. Ferran Torres, Fermin Lopez, Raphinha, Marcus Rashford and others... they were all guilty of poor finishing and could've put the game to bed long before the Englishman hammered home with 20 to play."
Barcelona faced an opponent that had failed to keep a clean sheet in 15 of the last 18 head-to-heads and had not beaten the Catalans in 24 matches, losing 20. Hansi Flick may have conserved resources ahead of a Copa del Rey quarter-final, but the match offered a chance to improve goal difference. Barcelona started aggressively at Elche, scoring in the sixth minute through Lamine and relentlessly pressuring their opponent. The team combined entertainment with visible work ethic in the first half. Finishing remained an issue, with numerous missed opportunities and woodwork strikes; several attackers failed to kill the game off.
Read at Barca Blaugranes
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