Elche vs. Barcelona: Winners and Losers from La Liga Game
Barcelona survived a tough opening period of the match to run out more-than-comfortable winners at Elche in La Liga on Saturday, eventually crushing their opponents 6-0.
Neymar and Lionel Messi scored twice each after Gerard Pique had scored the opener, and Pedro wrapped up the huge win in injury time. Elche lost Fajr Faycal to a red card and were lucky to only have one player sent off.
Here are all our winners and losers from the match.
Winner: Javier Mascherano
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Defensive midfielder Javier Mascherano, who plays for Argentina in international competition, generally does his patrolling at club level a little further back, in the centre of Barcelona's defence. Against Elche, with Sergio rested, he was given the chance to return to his more natural role—and did it superbly.
When Elche were positive and looking to attack in the first half, Mascherano was quick to make challenges and win the ball back for his team.
With some very good recovery challenges and great acceleration to make up ground, he dictated the centre of the park, but a yellow card meant manager Luis Enrique opted not to risk him further. Mascherano was subbed in the 70th minute.
Loser: Sergio Pelegrin
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Elche defender Sergio Pelegrin started the match with difficulties and didn't really get any better. Indeed, after an early yellow card was shown to him, he was lucky to finish the match at all.
Pelegrin couldn't get close to any of the forwards, not really shutting them down in the way his team-mates did for the better part of an hour, and was second best to second balls. Futhermore, his passing out of defence was similarly slow and sloppy.
Pelegrin should have been shown a yellow for bringing down Neymar for a penalty.
Winners: Neymar and Messi
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Neymar found it tough going in the first half, being starved of possession at times and seeing Elche work very hard to close him down as soon as the ball was sent wide left to him.
The second half, though, he totally turned it on—and buried the Valencian club with three key moments in a short space of time. He was taken out in the box with a brilliant, direct run to win a penalty, which was subsequently scored by Lionel Messi, before the same two players combined twice in three minutes for the Brazilian to score twice.
Neymar's first finish showed composure and timing, the second great technique. Both displayed excellent movement and impressive link-up play.
But the Brazilian shared the limelight with Messi, who also scored twice and set up both of Neymar's goals in another dazzling display.
Winner: Gerard Pique
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We'd normally have another "loser" in place here, but there were very few negative points for Barcelona to consider, unless Luis Suarez not getting on the pitch on his birthday counts as one.
So, instead, we'll heap praise on central defender Gerard Pique, who was strong and assured in the back line for most of the game, only having one nervy moment in possession that he escaped from without any damage.
Pique scored the game's opening goal with great composure, but it was his play at the back that was more worthy of note in the first 50 minutes or so, when Elche were looking progressive and positive and trying to get numbers forward.
Winner: Luis Enrique
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Barcelona boss Luis Enrique has been criticised at times for his selections this season, especially rotating midfield and forward players before a result that ultimately has not gone his way.
This time around, there were no such issues, as the manager made changes that left the team remaining balanced, threatening in attack and more than comfortable in possession after the opening goal.
After leaving Luis Suarez on the bench at Elche, he has a tough decision to make ahead of the midweek Copa Del Rey quarter-final second leg at Atletico Madrid.
A rest for a few key players, more game time for some younger individuals still with plenty to prove and three points in the bag—Enrique can't ask for more.
