FC Barcelona cemented their spot in the top four after rallying from behind to secure a 2-1 win over Elche on Sunday evening.
Result: Elche 1-2 Barcelona
Date: 06 March 2022
Venue: Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero
Sergino Dest, Adama Traore and Ferran Torres all dropped to the bench as Jordi Alba, Frenkie de Jong and Ousmane Dembele were recalled.
Xavi Hernandez's charges dominated proceedings in the early stages of the contest but only had a couple shots from distance to show for the effort in the opening 15 minutes.
The Catalans went agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock on 27 minutes via a lob from Dembele, but Gonzalez somehow got back to clear the effort on the line.
While Barcelona were unable to take advantage of their dominance, Elche got the breakthrough on the stroke of halftime as a wayward pass from Pedri played in Fidel, who raced into the box and drilled into the far corner.
Xavi responded with a change at the start of the second half as the young Gavi was withdrawn for Torres, who was looking for his first LaLiga goal.
Torres did not have to wait long as he brought Barcelona level on the hour mark after turning home a pass from Alba for his first league goal in Barcelona colours.
With time beginning to run for the hosts, Xavi looked to his bench once again and introduced Memphis Depay and Traore in place of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Dembele.
The substitutions worked their magic once again after Depay won a penalty in the final six minutes, which he converted to secure maximum points for Barcelona.
The game did end on a sour note for the home side, who finished the game with 10 men after Javier Pastore sent off in the closing stages.
