Against Elche, Barcelona began to see green shoots after an eternal week after the defeat against Real Madrid. It was evidenced by better pressure, greater vertigo and initial forcefulness, and. “I think we are finding the Barça of last year, in which from the first minute to the last we ate the grass,” Ferran Torres stuck out his chest. “We have found our spirit and our intensity,” he continued. “I really liked the dynamics and pressure of the team,” said Hansi Flick. The coach was optimistic, but also realistic: “I have seen many things that we have done very well. But I have also seen things that we have not done. We have to improve and continue. What we wanted at the beginning was to put pressure on them, we have done it and we have scored those two goals. We have had many opportunities.”
Flick was satisfied with the victory, more critical of the possession of the ball, which Elche ended up winning (49% compared to 51%). The Barça team came out with more enthusiasm and with a better version without the ball compared to the last games, and was more forceful in front of goal: 11 shots in the first half, 4 of them on target. The first two shots, two goals. Lamine Yamal began, with more spark. and Flick’s protection in public, he went out in search of the goal, and finished three times before reaching the break. His goal — his fourth this season — came in less than 10 minutes, and he kissed his shield and pointed to it. “At the moment he has to manage his injury. He is doing very well, he has a lot of discipline, but he has to maintain it, train and receive treatment. He is doing it. But I can’t say that it’s done, because this injury comes and goes,” Flick explained after the game.
Shortly after, Ferran’s goal arrived, becoming more and more active. He dedicated his 50th goal with Barça to those affected by the Valencia injury with a message under his shirt. “For us it is very important to come out strong and intense from the beginning to put ourselves ahead and take the game where we want,” explained the forward. And although Barcelona were more forceful, they built little: they completed 169 passes until half-time, when the average that Barcelona usually scores during the first half is around 300.
That initial push was diluted, especially after Elche’s goal. With this match, they have already conceded eight in a row, a streak they have not experienced since February 2021. Even so, Barcelona is satisfied with its best feelings, with Lewandowski and Dani Olmo back, Lamine’s spark a little more present and second place in the league, five points behind Real Madrid.
