Barcelona Aims to Extend Lead Against Struggling Elche

The direct qualification for the Champions League knockout stage achieved last Wednesday allows Barcelona to focus on LaLiga for several weeks, while their closest rivals, Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid, must manage their resources due to an additional European fixture that the Catalans will not participate in, granting them a chance to rest. The first challenge will be against Elche, managed by Eder Sarabia.

Barcelona heads to the Martínez Valero Stadium with the goal of solidifying its position at the top of the league. After Real Madrid temporarily took the lead from them last matchday, the Catalans now have the opportunity to establish a four-point advantage, contingent on the outcome of Arbeloa’s team against Rayo Vallecano.

Despite their current strong performance, Barcelona must address certain areas for improvement, particularly their slow starts in matches. They frequently concede early goals, which makes it difficult to stage comebacks. Although they managed to turn things around against Copenhagen on Wednesday, they were unable to do so in their recent league match in San Sebastián, where they ended up losing and breaking a strong run of results. Coach Flick welcomes back De Jong and Cancelo, who were unavailable last Wednesday, and Ferran, who has recovered, is expected to start.

On the other hand, Elche is facing a challenging period, having garnered only two points from their last twelve available. Including the Copa del Rey, they have conceded goals in the final minutes of their last four matches. Their most recent outing against Levante ended in a heartbreaking 3-2 loss after they equalized in stoppage time and led in the first half. Their recent form has narrowed their margin over the relegation zone to just three points.

In an effort to break free from this slump, Eder Sarabia calls for his team to “regain their courage” and to leverage their home advantage at Martínez Valero, where Elche has been one of the stronger teams in LaLiga. He also draws on the positive impression made in their earlier encounter this season, despite losing 3-1. The match will hold special significance for the Basque coach, who served as Quique Setién’s assistant during his tenure at Barcelona.

As a continuing challenge, Elche has several injury concerns and uncertainties affecting their lineup. Rafa Mir, John, and Bigas are doubtful to play, and they will also be without one of their key players, Aleix Febas, due to suspension.