90’+5’Full TimeSecond Half ends, Elche 0, Barcelona 4.90’+2’Post updateAttempt missed. Ferran Torres (Barcelona) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Lionel Messi.90’Post updateAttempt missed. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Jordi Alba.87’Post updateBooking. Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.84’Post updateSubstitution, Barcelona. Ilaix Moriba replaces Francisco Trincão.82’Post updateAttempt blocked. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Jordi Alba.78’Post updateSubstitution, Barcelona. Sergiño Dest replaces Jordi Alba.78’Post updateSubstitution, Elche. Gonzalo Verdú replaces Emiliano Rigoni.76’Post updateSubstitution, Elche. Fidel Chaves de la Torre replaces Josan Fernández.74’Post updateBooking. Ronald Araújo (Barcelona) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.68’Post updateSubstitution, Barcelona. Franck Kessié replaces Pedri.65’Post updateSubstitution, Elche. Gonzalo Verdu replaces Emiliano Rigoni.65’Post updateSubstitution, Elche. Juan Ferrández Pomares replaces Pere Milla.54’Post updateSubstitution, Elche. Gonzalo Gutiérrez Parejo replaces Jose Angel Carmona.
Robert Lewandowski scored twice as Barcelona moved closer to their first La Liga title since 2019 with a resounding win over Elche. The Polish striker opened the scoring in the 20th minute with a scuffed finish, before Ansu Fati added the second eight minutes into the second half. Gavi then set up Lewandowski to score the third and Ferran Torres extended the lead further in the 70th minute, leaving Barcelona 15 points clear of second-placed Real Madrid.
Elche were playing their first match under Sebastian Beccacece – their fourth permanent manager of the season – and put up a solid first-half showing, but lost their way after the break and remain 14 points from safety at the bottom of the table. Lewandowski put Barcelona ahead with their first real chance of the game when Jordi Alba’s free-kick was headed down to him by Ronald Araujo and his miskick looped into the far corner. The La Liga top scorer should have added a second late in the half but headed over from point-blank range.
The hosts’ best chance came when Jose Angel Carmona was put clean through only to feel his hamstring go as he burst clear and lose his footing. Three minutes later, Fati was able to run from inside his own half and drill the ball into the bottom corner as the Elche defence backed off. Lewandowski made it three with another untidy but effective finish on 66 minutes, before Torres completed the scoring with a curling effort from the edge of the box.
Real Madrid have the chance to reduce the gap to 12 points again when they host Real Valladolid on Sunday. Elche’s line-up included Badia, Palacios Zapata, Bigas, Mascarell, Clerc Martínez, Morente Oliva, Carmona, Gumbau Garriga, Blanco, Chaves de la Torre and Milla, while Barcelona’s starting XI consisted of ter Stegen, Koundé, Araújo, Alonso, Alba, Gavi, García, Roberto, F Torres, Lewandowski and Ansu Fati.