Another show from Yamal with Barcelona in the victory against Elche in La Liga – Boston Herald
By JOSEPH WILSON
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Lamine Yamal put on another spectacle, scoring Barcelona’s first goal and tormenting defenders throughout the game to lead the La Liga leader to a 3-1 victory at Elche on Saturday.
Yamal scored in the sixth minute and set up Marcus Rashford to secure the victory late in the second half. Elche briefly equalized in the first half before Ferran Torres restored a 2-1 lead just before half-time at the Martínez Valero Stadium.
Their goals allowed Barcelona to open a four-point gap over second-placed Real Madrid before they host Rayo Vallecano this Sunday.
It was the third consecutive game in which Yamal has scored for Barcelona. The 18-year-old Spanish star also scored in the 3-0 win over Real Oviedo last weekend and the 4-1 win over Copenhagen on Wednesday to lead his team to the last 16 of the Champions League.
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick praised Yamal, saying he still “has the potential to reach another level.”
Elche has surprised in its return to the top flight this season with its mentality that favors attack despite having a modest squad. They have lost just once at home in 11 previous games, including a 2-2 draw with Madrid.
And coach Eder Sarabia, a former Barcelona assistant, did not flinch in his attempt to match his opponent’s offensive power.
But the hosts were lucky to be only one goal down at the break after a blistering first half from the visitors. In addition to the goals from Yamal and Torres, Elche defender Víctor Chus cleared shots from Raphinha and Torres off the line. Dani Olmo and Torres hit the woodwork a total of three times.
“We played a fantastic game today, except for the final meters,” Flick said. “Normally in the first half we would have decided this game.”
Yamal got Barcelona going early when Olmo, starting for the third consecutive time for the injured Pedri, recovered a ball and sent a long pass into open space when Elche’s left back was out of position. Yamal did the rest by dribbling past former Barcelona goalkeeper Iñaki Peña and scoring his 13th goal this season.
Elche striker Álvaro Rodríguez equalized against the flow of the game. He beat goalkeeper Joan García one-on-one after Germán Valera set him up behind Barcelona’s high defensive line.
Barcelona responded by advancing strongly. They finished the game with 30 total shots compared to Elche’s nine.
Torres hit the crossbar with a volley. Immediately after, the ball hit his shoulder and returned to the post. A pass from Yamal was wasted by Fermín López on the edge of the six-yard box when he shot high.
At 39, Torres returned Barcelona’s lead by taking advantage of an exquisite team play. The striker played towards a free Frenkie de Jong in the area, De Jong attracted Peña and returned the ball to Torres to finish into the top corner.
Rashford came on for Raphinha at half-time and scored in the 72nd minute after Yamal escaped on the counterattack and squared a pass that was touched by an Elche defender. The former Manchester United striker ended up making the shot.
The defeat left Elche in 12th place.
Atlético stagnates
Atlético de Madrid resigned themselves to a goalless draw at relegation-threatened Levante, three days after losing to the Bodø/Glimt fiefdom 2-1 in the Champions League. The result left the Colchonero club in third place, ten points behind Barcelona.
Atlético striker Alexander Sorloth was taken to hospital after clashing heads with a Levante player in the first half.
Moreno scores twice
Gerard Moreno scored twice to secure fourth-place Villarreal a 2-2 draw at Osasuna, who dominated the first half.
Winger Víctor Múñoz and forward Ante Budimir scored for Osasuna.
Oviedo finally wins
Oviedo ended a 15-game winless streak by beating Girona 1-0 at home thanks to a second-half goal from Ilyas Chaira. The club led by Uruguayan Guillermo Almada, who was promoted this season, had not won since the end of September.
Oviedo remained in last place, six points from safety. The defeat ended a streak of three wins and one draw for Girona.
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Sports in Spanish AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
