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Barcelona logo
La Liga
Jan 5, 2014 at 3pm UK
 
Elche

4-0

Sanchez (7', 63', 69'), Pedro (16')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Match Analysis: Barcelona 4-0 Elche

Sports Mole dissects the action as Barcelona beat Elche 4-0 at Camp Nou.

Barcelona returned to the top of the La Liga table with a 4-0 win over Elche on Sunday afternoon.

Goals from Alexis Sanchez and Pedro left a dominant Barca outfit 2-0 ahead at the interval.

Xavi missed a penalty in the early stages of the second half, but Sanchez made it 3-0 just past the hour mark, before completing his hat-trick 20 minutes from time.

Here, Sports Mole dissects the 90 minutes of action between the two La Liga rivals.

Match statistics:

Barcelona:
Shots: 13
On target: 6
Possession: 64%
Corners: 1
Fouls: 12

Elche:
Shots: 3
On target: 0
Possession: 36%
Corners: 2
Fouls: 17

Was the result fair?

The scoreline might be slightly harsh on Elche, but there is no question that Barcelona deserved to collect all three points. They dominated possession from start to finish and played some really smart incisive football in the final third. Anyone for Atletico Madrid against Barcelona next week? That promises to be a real cracker in the Spanish capital.

Barcelona's performance

Who needs Lionel Messi? The Catalan outfit returned to the top of the La Liga table this afternoon with an impressive result and indeed performance at Camp Nou. Sanchez will rightly steal the headlines, but Cesc Fabregas and Pedro were also sensational in midfield. The return of Jordi Alba at left-back also provided a threat from full-back once more. Nothing but positives for the Spanish champions.

Elche's performance

In truth, how Elche fare this season will not depend on their results at places such as Camp Nou. They had their moments in an open first half, but there was not a single period in the match where they looked like worrying Victor Valdes in the Barcelona goal. They did manage to quell the constant pressure at 2-0, but simply could not match the intensity of their opponents in the second period.

Sports Mole's man of the match

Alexis Sanchez: The Chilean attacker took his La Liga tally to 11 for the season with a treble this afternoon. Aside from his wonderful hat-trick, the attacker impressed with his pace and movement in the final third. There is no question that he is currently in the form of his career.

Biggest gaffe of the match

On-loan Elche defender Alberto Botia made a really poor decision on the edge of his own box in the second period when he brought down Sanchez. The Spanish centre-back paid the biggest of prices when Sanchez stepped up and curled a sensational free kick into the top corner.

Referee performance

I am not sure if David Fernandez has had an easier match to officiate all season. The Spaniard allowed the 90 minutes to flow without any real incident, while he correctly awarded Barcelona a penalty in the second period. However, Botia was perhaps lucky to remain on the field in the latter stages when he pulled down Andres Iniesta inside the box.

What next?

Barcelona: The Catalan outfit are in Copa del Rey action at home to Getafe on Wednesday, before they travel to Atletico Madrid in La Liga next weekend.

Elche: Elche return to league action at home to in-form Sevilla next weekend.

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Barcelona's Chilean forward Alexis Sanchez celebrates after scoring during the Spanish league football match FC Barcelona vs Elche CF at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on January 5, 2014
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Sanchez hat-trick downs Elche
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona14111242142834
2Real Madrid1393128111730
3Atletico MadridAtletico148512181329
4Villarreal137422521425
5Athletic Bilbao146532013723
6Osasuna146441922-322
7GironaGirona146352018221
8Mallorca146351312121
9Real BetisBetis145541616020
10Real Sociedad145361111018
11Celta Vigo145362224-218
12Sevilla145361318-518
13Rayo Vallecano134451314-116
14Leganes143561319-614
15Getafe142751011-113
16AlavesAlaves144191524-913
17Las PalmasLas Palmas143381825-712
18Valencia122461219-710
19Espanyol133191226-1410
20Real ValladolidValladolid142391027-179


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