Elche CF 0-4 FC Barcelona: Robert Lewandowski hits brace as Barca go 15 points clear of Real Madrid at top of Liga

FC Barcelona beat Elche 4-0 to go 15 points clear of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga

Xavi's side took the lead after 19 minutes with their first chance of the game. Ronald Araujo cleverly headed the ball into the path of Robert Lewandowski who, with the help of a slight mis-hit, was able to clip the ball over Edgar Badia and into the back of the net.

The hosts responded brilliantly to going 1-0 down, pushing further up the pitch and pressing Barcelona with more intensity. They won a succession of corners and free kicks but failed to create anything clear-cut despite their presence in Barcelona's half.

Barcelona started the second half with more attacking intent, looking to kill the game off and after 10 minutes they had their second goal thanks to a superb solo special from Ansu Fati. The 20-year-old picked the ball up in his own half before slaloming forward and then firing a fiercely struck effort into the back of the net.

The visitors made it 3-0 shortly afterwards. Lewandowski was on hand to latch onto Gavi's pass and thump his effort past Badia for his second of the game and his 17th La Liga goal of the season.

Barcelona then scored their fourth and final goal in the 70th minute when Ferran Torres capped off a superb individual performance by drilling home his first La Liga goal since October 2022. The 23-year-old put in the sort of display that will undoubtedly give him confidence going forward in a Blauagrana shirt.

Tonight was the toughest possible introduction to Spanish football for new Elche manager Sebastian Beccacece. The 42-year-old former Argentina assistant manager is Elche's fourth permanent boss of the season and he will not face many tougher tests than he faced tonight. Despite the scoreline, there will definitely be parts of the game that he is able to take positives from, particularly their response in the first half to going 1-0 down.

His side pushed forward with courage and did well to go in at the break only 1-0 down. In terms of the wider context, Elche's season will not be defined by matches against FC Barcelona and despite being 13 points from safety, they have games coming up against Osasuna, Girona and Valencia - much better opportunities for Beccacece to stamp his authority on this Elche side and pick up some much-needed points.

The fact that Robert Lewandowski going five consecutive matches (for club and country) without a goal is considered a mini-drought tells you all you need to know about his reputation in front of goal - he certainly put an end to that drought tonight. He was in the right place at the right time for both of his goals, neither were the cleanest strikes but both ended up in the back of the net. He was a constant physical presence up front and gave the Elche defenders headaches all evening. A top performance from a top player.

Elche: Badia 5, Palacios 6, Bigas 6, Mascarell 7, Clerc 6, Morente 6, Carmona 6, Gumbu 6, Blanco 6, Fidel 7, Milla 6 Subs: Guti 6, Josan 7, Fernandez 6, Ponce 6

FC Barcelona: ter Stegen 7, Alba 7, Alonso 8, Araujo 7, Kounde 7, Roberto 7, Garcia 7, Gavi 8, Fati 7, Lewandowski 9, Ferran 8 Subs: Kessie 6, Torre 6, Garrido 6

19' GOAL - FC BARCELONA - Robert Lewandowski scores his 16th La Liga goal of the season! Ronald Araujo heads the ball back across to Lewandowski who does the rest, clipping it into the ground and into the back of the net.

42' OVER THE BAR! - A big chance for Barcelona. Ferran Torres whips in a delicious cross and Robert Lewandowski meets it from a few yards out but puts it over the bar. So close to 2-0.

45' A HUGE BLOCK FROM MASCARELL! - The ball comes across to Jules Kounde on the right-hand side who is in acres of space, he strikes it well but Omar Mascarell dives to block it on the line.

56' GOAL - FC BARCELONA - A simply magnificent goal from Ansu Fati! He picked the ball up inside his own half, travelled forwards with the ball into acres of space before unleashing a brilliant strike past Badia and into the back of the net.

65' GOAL - FC BARCELONA - Robert Lewandowski makes it 3-0 to Barcelona with his second of the evening! The ball is played into his path and he thumps it past Badia and into the back of the net.

70' GOAL - FC BARCELONA - Ferran Torres makes it 4-0 with a fine left-footed strike low into the bottom corner! That well and truly kills off the game with 20 minutes to go.

Elche have now failed to beat Barcelona in their last 21 attempts.