Match ends, Elche 0, Barcelona 2.
ElcheElche0BarcelonaBarcelona2
Frenkie de Jong scored one goal and created another to send Barcelona third in La Liga with victory at Elche.
De Jong converted from close range after Elche defender Diego Gonzalez diverted a cross towards his own net.
The Dutchman broke clear late on and clipped a cross to the back post for Riqui Puig to head in his first senior goal for Barca on his 25th appearance.
Elche should have levelled in the second half when Emiliano Rigoni ran clear but his effort was saved.
The visitors could have added to their tally but goalkeeper Edgar Badia was in inspired form, making stunning saves to deny Ousmane Dembele and twice from Trincao.
Elche extended their winless run to 13 games and stay in trouble in the relegation zone, two points from safety, though they do have two games in hand on 17th-place Osasuna.
Ronald Koeman's side move above Sevilla into third, seven points behind leaders Atletico Madrid who host Valencia later on Sunday (20:00 GMT).
Line-ups
Elche
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 13Badia
- 19Barragán
- 5Verdú
- 2González
- 25Mojica
- 4Marcone
- 17Ferrández Pomares
- 14Gutiérrez ParejoSubstituted forMorente Olivaat 74'minutes
- 8RodríguezSubstituted forMartinez Modestoat 82'minutes
- 22RigoniSubstituted forSánchez Benítezat 75'minutes
- 9Boyé
Substitutes
- 1Rodríguez
- 3Sánchez Miño
- 7Martinez Modesto
- 10Milla
- 11Morente Oliva
- 15Sánchez Benítez
- 20Lucumí
- 23Garrido Cifuentes
- 24Sánchez Guillén
- 26Donald
- 32Barri
- 33Salinas
Barcelona
Formation 4-3-3
- 1ter Stegen
- 28Mingueza
- 4Araujo
- 23Umtiti
- 18Alba
- 21de Jong
- 5BusquetsBooked at 68mins
- 16GonzálezSubstituted forPuigat 87'minutes
- 11DembéléSubstituted forMachado Trincãoat 74'minutes
- 7GriezmannBooked at 84mins
- 9Braithwaite
Substitutes
- 2Dest
- 8Pjanic
- 12Puig
- 13Murara Neto
- 15Lenglet
- 17Machado Trincão
- 19Fernandes Siqueira
- 24Firpo
- 29De la Fuente
- 36Tenas
- Referee:
- Valentín Pizarro Gómez
Match Stats
Home TeamElcheAway TeamBarcelona
- Possession
- Home35%
- Away65%
- Shots
- Home4
- Away15
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away8
- Corners
- Home0
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home15
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Elche 0, Barcelona 2.
Post update
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Antonio Barragán.
Post update
Óscar Mingueza (Barcelona) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Iván Marcone (Elche).
Goal!
Goal! Elche 0, Barcelona 2. Riqui Puig (Barcelona) header from very close range to the top left corner. Assisted by Frenkie de Jong.
Substitution
Substitution, Barcelona. Riqui Puig replaces Pedri.
Post update
Attempt saved. Trincão (Barcelona) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Antoine Griezmann with a cross.
Post update
Foul by Samuel Umtiti (Barcelona).
Post update
Lucas Boyé (Elche) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Booking
Antoine Griezmann (Barcelona) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Antoine Griezmann (Barcelona).
Post update
Iván Marcone (Elche) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt saved. Trincão (Barcelona) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Sergio Busquets.
Substitution
Substitution, Elche. Nino replaces Víctor Rodríguez.
Post update
Pedri (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Víctor Rodríguez (Elche).
Post update
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Tete Morente.
Post update
Sergio Busquets (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Luismi (Elche).
