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Barcelona rebound with win over Elche

By Ernesto Hernandez

Memphis Depay (R) celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the match between FC Barcelona and Elche CF at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on September 17, 2022.(Photo by JOSEP LAGO/AFP via Getty Images)
Memphis Depay (R) celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the match between FC Barcelona and Elche CF at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on September 17, 2022.(Photo by JOSEP LAGO/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring his side’s first goal during the LaLiga match between FC Barcelona and Elche CF at Spotify Camp Nou on September 17, 2022 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)
Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring his side’s first goal during the LaLiga match between FC Barcelona and Elche CF at Spotify Camp Nou on September 17, 2022 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images) /

Barcelona bounced back from their midweek loss in the Champions League against Bayern Munich with a 3-0 win over Elche at home.

As has been the norm early on this season, Robert Lewandowski got things going for the Blaugrana, tapping in a cross from Alejandro Balde.

Barcelona doubled their lead with five minutes left in the first-half. Memphis Depay received the ball inside the penalty area and with one touch got past the Elche defender who was right on top of him. The Dutchman then didn’t hesitate and rifled a shot past the keeper.

With Elche’s Gonzalo Verdu picking up a red card early in the first half, combined with Barcelona’s two goals before the break, the second half was smooth sailing for Xavi’s side.

Lewandowski scored his brace three minutes into the second half to put a bow on the proceedings — bringing his tally to eight goals in six games, leading the Pichichi race.

https://twitter.com/ESPNFC/status/1571159646575935490

The win is Barcelona’s fifth straight in LaLiga and the team’s fifth clean sheet of the season. It also momentarily puts them atop the standings, pending the result of the match between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid.

Alongside the win and the clean sheet, Xavi is sure to be content with the way his team performed. He rotated once again with Frenkie de Jong and Franck Kessie starting in midfield. De Jong had a good game covering for Sergio Busquets in the center of the pitch.

Balde continues to reward the manager’s faith as he played well in both sides of the pitch. Though, Elche provided very little going forward. In any case, it seems like the18-year-old has established himself as the starting left-back over Jordi Alba and Marcos Alonso.

Next. Three reasons for below-par showing of Chelsea this season. dark

With the international break coming up, Barcelona now take a week off before having to travel to take on Mallorca on Oct. 1.

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