Elche 1-3 Barcelona Player Ratings: Lamine Yamal in Red-hot Form as Catalans Dominate Away La Liga Game

FC Barcelona registered a convincing victory over Elche in an entertaining La Liga clash at the Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero. Hansi Flick's side missed several chances. Otherwise, the score could look different. In this article, we'll check out Elche vs Barcelona player ratings from the La Liga fixture.

Barcelona started the match at a fast pace and took the lead after just six minutes. Lamine Yamal produced a beauty to open the scoring for the visitors, reminding fans of eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi. The visitors looked in control early, but Elche responded with determination.

Elche’s pressure paid off when Álvaro Rodríguez scored the equaliser. The goal lifted the home crowd and gave the hosts belief. The first half remained open and intense, with chances at both ends. Ferran Torres was unlucky during this period, hitting the woodwork twice and missing close-range opportunities.

Just before the break, Torres finally found the net, giving Barcelona a crucial lead at halftime. The second half was more controlled. Barcelona slowed the game down and managed possession well. Substitute Marcus Rashford made an immediate impact by scoring the third goal, which effectively sealed the victory for Barcelona.

Key Takeaways

1. Lamine Yamal scored inside six minutes to give Barcelona an early lead.
2. Álvaro Rodríguez equalised for Elche, while Ferran Torres hit the woodwork twice before scoring just before halftime.
3. Substitute Marcus Rashford scored in the second half to seal the win for F.C. Barcelona.

Barcelona Player Ratings vs Elche

Here are Barcelona player ratings from the La Liga game against Elche:

Goalkeeper

Joan García - 6.5: He couldn't do much about the goal he conceded. Made a couple of important saves late in the game to keep things comfortable. It was a relatively quiet evening for him otherwise, which is a credit to his defence. A steady, if unspectacular, performance.

Defenders

Jules Koundé - 6.5: Had a solid game on the right before he was forced off with an injury. He was reliable in possession and got forward to create a chance. His departure was a worrying sight, but he did his job well while on the pitch.

Pau Cubarsí - 6.0: A very quiet outing for the young defender. He wasn't tested much by the Elche attack. We noticed his passing was incredibly tidy and he never looked flustered. A simple, effective performance, doing the basics right.

Eric García - 7.0: He was everywhere at the back. Made a number of key interceptions and was strong in the tackle. He did miss a headed chance from a corner which he'll be annoyed about. Overall, a very active and commanding display from him.

Alejandro Balde - 7.5: A constant menace down the left flank. His pace was a huge problem for Elche all game. He created three chances and was always looking to make things happen. An impressive attacking performance from the fullback.

Midfielders

Frenkie de Jong - 8.5: A true captain's performance. He absolutely ran the show from midfield, dictating the tempo of the game. Created an astonishing five chances and provided the assist for the second goal. The late yellow card was the only blot on an otherwise masterful display.

Fermín López - 7.0: An all-action, chaotic performance. He missed a couple of big chances which was frustrating to watch, but his energy was infectious. He was always in the thick of things, driving forward and winning the ball back. A whirlwind of a player.

Dani Olmo - 7.5: From our perspective, he was brilliant in the hour he played. That through ball for the first goal was sublime. He was unlucky to hit the crossbar himself. A real creative spark who made things happen before being substituted.

Forwards

Lamine Yamal - 9.5: What more can be said? The highest-rated player on the pitch, and deservedly so. He scored the opener, created an unbelievable eight chances, and was simply unplayable. Every time he got the ball, you felt something was going to happen. A genuinely world-class performance from the teenager.

Ferran Torres - 7.0: A really strange game for him. He could have had a hat-trick, missing three big chances and hitting the woodwork twice. But, to his credit, he never hid and eventually got his goal. A story of frustration and redemption.

Raphinha - 6.4: Only played the first 45 minutes. He was involved, created a big chance, but didn't quite set the world alight. A decent but forgettable half from the Brazilian before he was hooked at the break.

Substitutes

Marcus Rashford - 7.5: Came on at halftime and made an immediate impact. His direct running caused problems, and he took his goal very well to seal the points. An excellent contribution from the bench.

Robert Lewandowski - 6.0: Replaced Torres but couldn't get on the scoresheet. He had a couple of half-chances but looked a little bit off the pace. Not his most influential cameo.

Marc Bernal - 6.0: Slotted into midfield and kept the ball moving nicely. Didn't do anything spectacular but helped Barça see out the game with ease.

Ronald Araujo - N/A: Brought on late for the injured Koundé.

Marc Casadó - N/A: A late cameo appearance.

Manager

H. Flick - 7.5: His team selection was spot on, and they flew out of the blocks. He managed the game well after weathering a brief Elche storm. His substitutions, particularly bringing on Rashford, were decisive. A solid tactical win.

Elche Player Ratings vs FC Barcelona

Let's take a look at Elche player ratings from the Barcelona vs Elche La Liga game:

Goalkeeper

Iñaki Peña - 6.0: He was a busy man. Faced a ton of shots and made four saves, some of them very good. From our perspective, he couldn't have done much about any of the three goals. He was left exposed by his defence far too often.

Defenders

David Affengruber - 5.5: The captain had a really tough night. He struggled to contain Barcelona's fluid attack and committed a few clumsy fouls. It was no surprise to see him substituted. A difficult evening at the office.

Víctor Chust - 7.0: Easily Elche's best defender. He threw his body on the line time and again, making five clearances and three blocked shots. That clearance off the line was a standout moment. A brave and committed display.

John Donald - 5.0: A night to forget for the defender. He was dribbled past three times and looked off the pace. The yellow card he picked up was a result of his struggles. He just couldn't cope with the movement of the attackers.

Midfielders

Adrià Pedrosa - 6.0: He put in a real shift on the flank, but his end product was lacking. He was caught out defensively by Lamine Yamal more than once. We saw plenty of effort but not enough quality when it mattered.

Marc Aguado - 5.5: He was neat and tidy in possession but offered very little resistance without the ball. The game seemed to pass him by, and he was unsurprisingly taken off early in the second half.

Germán Valera - 7.5: A real bright spark for the home side. Delivered a fantastic assist for their goal and was a creative threat throughout. He worked hard defensively too, recovering the ball seven times. A very impressive individual performance.

Rodrigo Mendoza - 6.5: A combative display in the middle of the park. He won eight duels and was a disruptive force. However, his aggression boiled over at times, leading to a deserved yellow card. A fighter, but lacked composure.

Forwards

Álvaro Rodríguez - 7.2: He took his goal with the confidence of a top striker. He was a physical handful for the Barça defenders, winning plenty of aerial battles. He led the line well and can be proud of his performance.

André Silva - 5.0: Almost completely anonymous. He had just 17 touches in 60 minutes and offered next to nothing. From our perspective, it was like Elche were playing with ten men when he was on. A very poor showing.

Grady Diangana - 5.5: Much like his striking partner, he struggled to get into the game. He was isolated and couldn't make an impact before being substituted. A frustrating evening for him.

Substitutes

Federico Redondo - 6.0: Came on and added a bit more bite to the midfield, though he was a bit too eager with his challenges.

Adam El Mokhtari - 6.0: Was more involved than Silva, forcing a good save with a header. A decent cameo.

Martim Neto - 6.0: Looked lively and created a chance for his teammates. A positive change.

Léo Pétrot - N/A: Came on late with the game already decided.

Lucas Cepeda - N/A: Forced a save in his brief appearance.

Manager

E. Sarabia Armesto - 6.0: His team showed great character to equalize, and his game plan worked for a period. However, they were ultimately undone by a significant gap in quality. His side never gave up, but the defensive frailties were too much to overcome.

Man of the Match

Lamine Yamal appeared invincible in the La Liga clash against Elche.

Worst Performer

John Donald was the worst performer in the Elche vs Barcelona game.