Elche CF Vs FC Barcelona , Six of the best!

Piqué, Neymar(2), Messi(2) and Pedro sink Elche as Barça run riot.

Elche fans are no doubt grateful that their team won’t have to play Barça again this season, or indeed this month, as Luis Enrique’s side ran riot at the Manuel Martínez Valero Stadium to chalk up six goals - that’s 15 in the three January games against Fran Escribá’s team. Gerard Piqué opened the scoring in the first half, with Messi and Neymar getting a brace each after the break before Pedro made it a round half dozen in injury time.

Squad rotation

With Luis Suárez, Busquets, Iniesta and Dani Alves all on the bench with one eye on Wednesday’s Cup game against Atlético Madrid, Luis Enrique began the game with Alba, Bartra, Piqué and Montoya at the back, Mascherano moving into the holding midfielder’s role and Pedro partnering Messi and Neymar up front. If the fans were expecting the goals to pour in early on after the team’s 9 goals in the Cup against Elche earlier this month, they would have been disappointed as it was a cagey start to the game, with Elche looking quite lively and pulling a couple of good low stops from Bravo in the opening exchanges.

Piqué opens the scoring

However, as Barça began to control the game and hold onto the ball, Elche were forced into a series of fouls – with 5 yellow cards in the first 45 minutes. Pelegrín was the third name in the ref’s book for a foul just outside the box on Pedro on 34 minutes and Xavi took a quick free kick to the back post, where Piqué chested the ball down and volleyed home from close range for the opener.

Messi and Neymar double up and Pedro makes it six

Elche actually started the second half well, with a couple of half breaks after some sloppy defending from Barça, but when Neymar was fouled in the box by the unfortunate Pelegrín on 52 minutes, Messi made no mistake from the spot and the flood gates were about to open. The hosts weren’t helped by a red card for Fajr on the hour and soon Messi and Neymar were weaving patterns through the home defence. Two goals in two minutes from the Brazilian – both set up by Messi – made it four and a lovely through ball from Bartra sent in the Argentinean for his 21st league goal of the season on 87 minutes. That looked to be that before Neymar raced down the right in the final seconds and crossed for Pedro to tap home and make it six.

This week at FC Barcelona

30 hat-tricks, unbeatable goalkeepers, Cup victory, the view from the stands and NBA All Star brothers are just some of the stories that have hit the headlines this week.

We like to make life easy for you here at fcbarcelona.com, so with that in mind we have brought together some of the biggest stories from the Club's offical website this week so far.









Wonderful half-season for Claudio Bravo

Ten facts about Messi's 30 hat-tricks

FC Barcelona v Atlético Madrid: Messi breaks the deadlock (1-0)

Without intensity anything is tough, says Luis Enrique

The Barça coach reminds everyone that there is no such thing as an easy match

Barça head coach Luis Enrique Martinez appeared in Friday's press conference before Saturday's visit to Elche. He was clear: "The league isfull of surprises, there is no such thing as an easy game. We've prepared with that in mind. Without intensity, anyone can make your life difficult." Hedid not want to reference the recent Cup tie between the two teams. "It will be difficult for sure. There will be little space and they'll try to counter. That happens in every game."

Thrilled with Luis Suárez

Over the team's current five-game winning streak, he saw them physically strong. He said Rakitic was left out of the squad versus Elche, but clarified: "There's no problem, he's a very important player." About the injured Mathieu, Luis Enrique said: "He's almost ready. He got scratched with a boot, but he'll be fine."

"There are few players who move into the area better than Suárez."

He also spoke emphatically about Luís Suárez. "It seems that he's a bit far away from the goal, but that happens to all forwards. He still provides a lot on offense." He added: "There are few players who moveinto the area better than Suárez. I'm not worried. Scoring is natural, he'll get there." The coach is alsovery satisfied with the performance of goalkeepers Bravo, Ter Stegen, and Masip. "I have three topkeepers; we did a great job after losing Víctor Valdés," he said.