Yamal strikes as Barca bounces back from Clasico loss

BARCELONA — Lamine Yamal and Marcus Rashford struck for Barcelona as the Catalan club earned a 3-1 win over Elche in La Liga on Sunday to bounce back from the previous weekend's Clasico defeat.

Ferran Torres was also on target for Barca, which moved back into second place, trailing league leader Real Madrid by five points.

Barca continued to struggle in defense, though, and Elche had chances to cause an upset, scoring through Rafa Mir, with the striker also twice hitting the woodwork.

Hansi Flick's side has failed to keep a clean sheet in six consecutive league games, in the midst of an injury crisis.

The champion was missing Raphinha, Pedri and Joan Garcia, among others, but was able to bring on Robert Lewandowski and Dani Olmo following their return to fitness.

Teenage star Yamal underwhelmed in the previous week's defeat to Real Madrid after coming back from a groin issue, but looked more sprightly against Elche.

"We found our spirit and intensity," Torres told DAZN.

"I think we're finding last year's Barca, from the first minute to last we gave everything, and we'll keep doing that."

Coached by Eder Sarabia, a former Barcelona assistant coach under Quique Setien, the ninth-placed visitor came to play, and impressed, despite its eventual defeat.

Barca took the lead after nine minutes when Alejandro Balde drove forward and fed Yamal in the area.

The winger took a touch to set himself and then whipped a clinical finish past former Barca goalkeeper Inaki Pena.

Flick said Yamal's groin injury was still an issue that the youngster needs to work on.

"He has to train and have treatment, he has to do this, and he did it, it's a good step forward for him," explained Flick. "I cannot say it's over, it's coming and going, and he has to manage it."

Torres doubled the host's advantage three minutes later, tapping home after Fermin Lopez broke into space down the left and provided an inch-perfect cross.

Pena saved from Torres as Barca squandered some presentable chances to add to its lead.

Mir pulled a goal back shortly before halftime.

Barca tried to catch the forward offside, but he was in his own half when he was played in. Mir bent a shot past Ronald Araujo and Barca goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and in at the far post.

Torres might have scored again before the interval, but Pena produced a superb save to tip his strike to safety.

'Days like this'

Early in the second half Mir clipped the top of the crossbar with a curling effort, as Elche battled well.

Rashford sealed Barca's victory with a superb finish after Lopez picked him out with a cross for his second league goal of the campaign.

"When you see his chances, one or two goals more would be good, but we can be happy for him," said Flick.

Rashford admitted he could have been even more effective in the final third.

"I could have had more assists or goals, sometimes the decision making to shoot or pass was wrong today, but I am going to have days like this," he told the club's streaming platform Barca One.

Veteran goalkeeper Szczesny pushed a Mir effort onto the post to save Barca sweating over its advantage in the final stages.

"We were ourselves, and the fans are proud of how we played," said Elche coach Sarabia.

"We know that it's normal that they score goals against us, but we could have got some, too."

Elsewhere, Real Betis rose to fifth with a convincing 3-0 home win over Mallorca, inspired by Brazilian winger Antony.

AFP