Barcelona Claims Victory Over Elche, Retains La Liga Lead

Match Overview

In an exhilarating encounter on Saturday, February 1, 2026, Barcelona secured a 1-3 victory against Elche in the 22nd round of La Liga. The match showcased fast-paced action that spanned from start end of the pitch to the other, allowing the Catalans to solidify their position at the top of the league standings.

Manager’s Remarks

Barcelona’s head coach, Hansi Flick, expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance post-match, stating, “We want to continue playing like this; we are confident in ourselves. We deserved the three points today, having created numerous chances and should have scored more goals, which would have made it easier to manage the match.”

Speaking about the players’ performances, Flick highlighted the contributions of young talent Lamine Yamal: “I’m pleased with his display in both attack and defense. As for Frenkie de Jong, like Lamine, he is an artist on the field. We aimed to give Raphinha 60 minutes, but opted to substitute him instead; I hope it’s nothing serious.”

Player Insights

Frenkie de Jong also shared his thoughts after the match, emphasizing the importance of the three points. “I’m happy that we took the three points; we are still evolving as a team. We haven’t reached our best level yet. We missed a few opportunities, but the key takeaway is that we created them. Many teams defend against us, but Elche did not, making this a preferable style of play for both the fans and myself.”

Barcelona’s resilience in attack and overall team performance leaves fans optimistic as they prepare for the upcoming matches.

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