Barcelona will be looking to strengthen their position at the top of La Liga when they travel to Estadio Martinez Valero on Saturday to face Elche.
Barcelona will be eyeing a fourth straight win across competitions when they square off against an inconsistent Elche outfit. The home team have been winless in their last four league outings, and taking down the Catalan giants could prove to be a very difficult start for them.
Elche are 11th on the table with 24 points in their 21 outings, thanks to five wins and nine draws. Since they are only three points clear of the drop zone, they can’t really afford to relax.
More importantly, the home team are winless in their last four league outings. Their last win came back in December, and they are heading into this fixture on the back of a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Levante. Elche will have to be at their absolute best to stand a chance in this fixture.
Meanwhile, the visitors are top of the table with 52 points in their 21 outings, thanks to 17 wins and a draw. They had a four-point lead over second-placed Real Madrid, but a surprise defeat to Real Sociedad has reduced the gap to just a point.
Since that defeat, Barcelona have won their last three games across competitions. They secured a comfortable 4-1 win over Copenhagen in the UEFA Champions League last time out and will be confident about carrying on in similar fashion. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could deploy.
Team News & Tactics
Elche
On loan from Barcelona, Hector Fort will miss this fixture because of a shoulder injury, while Alvaro Nunez is a major doubt because of a muscular problem. Aleix Febas is suspended for this fixture.
Elche will line up in a 3-5-2 formation, where Inaki Pena will take charge in goal. The back three will be made up of Victor Chust, David Affengruber, and Pedro Bigas. The trio will look to keep the star-studded Barcelona attack at bay with the help of Adria Pedrosa and German Valera, who will feature as the wing-backs.
As for the midfield unit, Grady Diangana will start alongside Marc Aguado and Martim Neto in the centre of the park. The trio will have to support their backline and not allow the opposition’s midfield to have easy possession. Andre Silva will start alongside Alvaro Rodríguez in the final third, waiting to hit Barcelona on the breaks.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Pena; Chust, Affengruber, Bigas; Pedrosa, Neto, Diangana, Aguado, Valera; Rodriguez, Silva
Barcelona
The away side will be without the services of Gavi (knee), Pedri (hamstring), and Andreas Christensen (ACL). But Barcelona do have a boost as Frenkie de Jong is available to take on Elche after serving a suspension.
Hansi Flick’s team will continue to lineup in a 4-2-3-1 formation, where Joan Garcia will be in goal. Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde will feature as the full-backs, while Pau Cubarsi will pair up with Gerard Martin in the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Eric Garcia will pair up with Frenkie de Jong in the centre of the park. The duo will form the double pivot, and they will look to shield the backline and control the tempo of the game.
Lamine Yamal and Raphinha will feature as the wingers, with Fermin Lopez likely to take up the number ten role. Finally, Ferran Torres will spearhead the Barcelona attack against Elche on Saturday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Joan Garcia; Kounde, Cubarsi, Martin, Balde; Eric Garcia, de Jong; Yamal, Fermin, Raphinha; Ferran Torres
Key Stats
- In the last 52 meetings between the two teams, Barcelona have won 35, while Elche have come out on top on only nine occasions.
- The two teams last faced each other in November 2025, and the Catalan giants secured an easy 3-1 win.
- The last six meetings between the two teams have produced at least three goals.
- The Blaugrana are in red-hot form heading into their fixture, having won 14 out of their last 15 outings.
- Elche, on the other hand, are struggling for momentum and are without a win in their last five games (L3).
Player to Watch
Lamine Yamal
Yamal will be the player to watch when Barcelona take on Elche, given his outstanding output and growing influence in the final third. The teenager has been directly involved in 25 goals this season, scoring 12 times and providing 13 assists in 27 appearances across competitions.
Heading into this fixture, Yamal is full of confidence after registering a goal and an assist in the Champions League, and his form on the big stage continues to shine through. With his pace, close control, and ability to create and finish chances, the youngster is likely to pose serious problems for the Elche defence.
Prediction
Elche 0-3 Barcelona
Elche’s struggles in recent weeks and their proximity to the relegation zone mean they cannot afford another slip-up, but facing a free-scoring Barcelona side makes this a daunting task. While the hosts may look to stay compact and threaten on the counter, their lack of momentum and defensive vulnerabilities could prove costly against elite opposition.
Barcelona, on the other hand, arrive in a confident mood and will be keen to keep the pressure on at the top of the table. With their attacking depth and control in midfield, the Catalan giants should be able to dictate the tempo and create enough clear-cut chances to come away with a comfortable victory. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-0 win for the away team.