Barcelona has booked a much-needed victory in LaLiga on Wednesday evening. After the missteps against Paris Saint-Germain (1-4 loss) and Cádiz (1-1), the team of trainer Ronald Koeman was 3-0 too strong for Elche, the number eighteen of the Spanish league. Koeman opted for no fewer than five changes compared to the previous matches in the make-up game of the first match day. Lionel Messi had an important share in the victory with two goals and a front assistant. The Argentinian’s second goal was preceded by a wonderful action by Frenkie de Jong.
Barcelona did not manage to distance themselves from Elche in the first half. The low flyer bravely played football and made a strong impression in the back. The few times that Koeman’s team did get past the Elche defenders, Edgar Badia kept his team going. The goalkeeper already had an excellent save in the first minute on a shot by Trincao, after a one-two between Messi and De Jong.
Badia emerged victorious again almost twenty minutes later when Trincao got the ball from Messi, got rid of two opponents and bumped into the goalkeeper. In the 29th minute the keeper reacted well to a header from De Jong. Elche was dangerous in the transition and created some dire situations. For example, a bet by Lucas Boyé in the fourth minute lacked the necessary precision and two minutes before the break it was thanks to Ter Stegen that Pere Milla did not send the visitors into half time with a 0-1 lead.
Leoooo Messiiii ?? The Argentinian child prodigy breaks the spell for Barça against Elche ???? Messi sets up the attack himself and finishes it after a nice heel from Braithwaite ??#ZiggoSport #LaLiga #BarcaElche pic.twitter.com/YUxLgXyiRW
– Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) February 24, 2021
Koeman wanted to see more speed in the team after the break and opted for the entrance of Ousmane Dembélé, at the expense of Pjanic. Two minutes after the break, the 1-0 already appeared on the scoreboard, even though 90 percent of the goal was due to Messi’s individual qualities. The star received the ball from Pedri and was unable to keep up with his rush towards the penalty area. After a one-two with Martin Braithwaite, who returned the leather with the heel, he shot the ball behind Badia: 1-0.
Although Barcelona controlled the game from a moral point of view, Elche did not throw in the towel at all. A brilliant action by De Jong after 69 minutes, however, was the final blow for the visitors. The Dutchman showed his heels to three opponents and then passed the ball well to Messi, who could not get off the ball in the penalty area and scored from close range: 2-0.
Frenkie de Jong ?? Leo Messi ?? Another wonderful goal from Messi, this time after a beautiful action from Frenkie’s own half ??#ZiggoSport #LaLiga #BarcaElche pic.twitter.com/MxTIBp3JEm
– Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) February 24, 2021
Barcelona’s 3-0, a few minutes later, was also brilliantly made. Messi suddenly gave the ball from the right to the left post where Braithwaite headed the ball towards Jordi Alba and the back worked the ball in from close range. Sergiño Dest only participated in the last fifteen minutes. Because of the victory, Barcelona is provisionally third, with two points more and also one match more than Sevilla. The Southern Spanish club will be the opponent of the Catalans next Saturday and Wednesday next week, in LaLiga and Copa del Rey respectively.