BARCELONA 4
ELCHE 0
Barcelona moved back to the top of the Primera Liga on goal difference with a comfortable 4-0 win over Elche last night thanks to a hat-trick from Alexis Sanchez.
The Catalans are tied with Atletico Madrid on 49 points and the two are to meet for the first time in the league this season next weekend at the Vicente Calderon.
Lionel Messi was again watching from the stands as he nears a comeback from a hamstring injury and Neymar was left on the bench having recently returned from a break in Brazil.
Sanchez and Pedro proved able deputies as they slotted home inside the opening 15 minutes.
Xavi also missed a second-half penalty for the hosts, but it mattered little as Sanchez rolled home his second goal from Pedro’s pass shortly afterwards and the Chilean sealed his first hat-trick for the club with a stunning free kick 21 minutes from time.
“We played very well. We had variation, precision, control and we had a lot of chances,” said Barca coach Gerardo Martino. “We were always concentrated through the game and limited the opponent to few sights of goal. In the second-half especially we controlled the game completely.”
The Argentine was particularly pleased with the contribution of Pedro and Sanchez in the absence of Messi and Neymar. “I was happy for Alexis because, as a coach, you always like to see players like he and Pedro who work so hard for the team get their reward.”
Victor Valdes was making his return in goal for Barca after six weeks out with a calf injury and was nearly beaten on 14 minutes when Richmond Boakye fired a powerful drive off the outside of the post.
Barca had already scored on seven minutes when Jordi Alba’s enticing cross from the left was expertly finished by Sanchez. Then moments after Elche almost equalised, Barca made the game safe as Cesc Fabregas released Pedro to round Elche keeper Tono and roll the ball into an unguarded net.
Barca had a great chance to extend their advantage four minutes after the break when Cristian Sapunaru upended Fabregas inside the area and was fortunate not to be shown a red card for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity. Xavi then side-footed the resultant spot kick wide of the target.
The third goal arrived just after the hour as Pedro unselfishly squared for Sanchez to double his tally for the afternoon.
Six minutes later Sanchez sealed his hat-trick with a fine curling free kick.
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