High-flying Barcelona will travel to the Province of Alicante this Sunday to play Elche in the 27th round of the 2021/22 La Liga season.
Venue: Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero (Elche)
Key Statistics
Elche are unbeaten across five La Liga home games (W4, D1).
They have won their last three home games, which form their best such streak in the top-flight since 1977.
Elche’s Lucas Boyé has scored the match opener in five of his last six La Liga scoring games.
Barcelona are unbeaten across ten La Liga games (W6, D4).
The visitors have scored four goals in each of their last three games in all competitions.
If he scores in this game, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will equal the best scoring record for a Barcelona player in his first five LL games in the 21st Century.
Head to head
Barcelona have won eight of the last nine meetings between both sides (D1).
Latest performances in all competitions
Elche: L-W-L-W-D
Barca: W-W-W-D-D
Elche
Elche will look to get a valuable point when they welcome Barcelona to Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero this Sunday.
The hosts have enjoyed a good 2022 league Season as they have won four of their eight league fixtures this year (D2, L2). But with both of those losses coming across their last three outings, Elche’s mid-table status is under threat.
Another run of poor results could quickly put them into the relegation zone if they’re not careful. Their most recent loss came in their last outing – a 3-0 loss against the bottom of the table, Levante.
The result leaves them in 13th place ahead of this round of games. With their last two defeats also coming ‘to nil’, that misery could be compounded further in this clash with Barcelona as ten of Elche’s last 11 LL H2Hs have followed the same fate.
However, they will be buoyed by a strong home record which has them unbeaten across five LL home games (W4, D1) – including three consecutive wins, which form their best such streak in the top-flight since 1977.
Possible Elche starting line-up
Edgar Badia; Antonio Barragan, Enzo Roco, Pedro Bigas, Johan Mojica; Tete Morente, Omar Mascarell, Raul Guti, Fidel; Pere Milla, Lucas Boye.
Injured: Javier Pastore, John Donald and Helibelton Palacios.
Doubtful: None
Suspended: Gerard Gumbau
Barcelona
Meanwhile, Barcelona will look to make it three La Liga victories in a row when they travel to Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero on Sunday afternoon.
The Catalan giants are a serious contender, and are currently fourth in the table, one point behind third-placed Real Betis with a game in hand.
The visitors come into this game on the back of a 4-0 win over Athletic Bilbao. They have scored four times in their last three games in all competitions.
They will arrive here full of confidence as they chase their own long-standing record from May 2017 of scoring 4+ goals in three consecutive league games.
Meanwhile, they are now unbeaten across ten LL games (W6, D4) and are one of the most in-form sides in Spain at the moment.
Although Xavi’s side are not in a title race this season, given that they are sitting 15 points behind leaders Real Madrid, they would be just six points behind second-placed Sevilla if they win their match in hand. So it is not impossible to imagine them claiming the runners-up spot, which would be a success considering their struggles this term.
But Barcelona will be without Alejandro Balde, Ansu Fati, Sergi Roberto and Samuel Umtiti for this tie due to injuries.
Possible Barcelona starting line-up
Marc Ter Stegen; Sergino Dest, Ronald Araujo, Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba; Frenkie de Jong, Sergio Busquets, Pedri; Adams Traore, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ferran Torres.
Injured: Alejandro Balde, Ansu Fati, Sergi Roberto and Samuel Umtiti
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Prediction
Elche 1-3 Barcelona
