Result and early minutes
Barcelona arrived at the Martínez Valero with the intention of asserting dominance, and they did so immediately. Raphinha opened the score at the 12th minute with a penalty that resulted from a play in which the local defender, Chust, committed a foul inside the area. The Brazilian held his ground and the ball stayed in the net, leaving the hosts without a chance to respond.
Goals and attack rhythm
Just ten minutes later, Adeyemi completed the advantage with a goal that emerged from a combination between Lamine Yamal and Raphinha. The English forward took advantage of the visitors’ pressure and, after a quick pass, finished with a precise shot.
Raphinha scored again at the 28th minute, this time after a pass from Gordon that allowed him to control the ball and finish safely, putting Barcelona at 3-0. Fermín sealed the first half with a goal at the 35th minute, seizing a cross from Bernal that slipped between the defense and the goal.
Tactics and the coach’s decisions
Coach Hansi Flick, not having the striker Robet Lewandowski, chose a coral play scheme and left Hamza Abdelkarim on the bench, preferring that the goal responsibility falls on his attacking players. The strategy worked, as the forwards stayed active and pressured the opponent.
During the break, the coach also expressed concern about a possible injury to Gavi, who was substituted by Pedri before the second half began. Despite this absence, Barcelona continued to dominate.
Second half finish and conclusion
The second half was a repeat of the first. Fermín scored his second goal at the 70th minute, after a quick movement that left him free in the penalty area. The Andalusian forward, acting as a false striker, completed the fourth goal with a shot that slipped into the upper corner of the net.
The fifth goal came at the 78th minute, when Fermín again capitalized on an opportunity created by a pass from Raphinha. With the score 5-0, Barcelona displayed a complete performance, with the defense, especially Eric, keeping the local team at bay.
The match ended with a clear victory for Barcelona, who demonstrated their technical and tactical superiority against an Elche that, despite its efforts, failed to find the net or create significant opportunities.
