Barcelona will try to get back to winning ways in La Liga when they host Elche at Camp Nou on Saturday night. Xavi’s team is currently seventh in Spain’s top division, with only 24 points from their first 16 games of the season, while Elche is 16th with only 15 points from their first 17 games.
Barcelona won their first two La Liga games under Xavi against Espanyol and Villarreal, but the Catalan giants have only picked up one point in their past two games, losing at home to Real Betis on December 4 before drawing 2-2 with Osasuna last weekend.
The La Liga team was also eliminated from the Champions League in the group stage last week, relegating them to the Europa League, where they have been paired with Italian side Napoli. Barcelona also faced Boca Juniors in the first Diego Maradona Cup on Tuesday, with the Argentines winning on penalties following a 1-1 draw in Saudi Arabia.
Xavi’s club must now focus on getting back to winning ways in the league, after a poor campaign that has seen them gather just 24 points from 16 matches, good for eighth place, five points behind fourth-placed Atletico Madrid, and 18 points behind champions Real Madrid.
Blaugrana will not compete for the title this season, but rather must finish in the top four to avoid further financial difficulties, and the importance of this weekend’s game cannot be overstated. Elche, on the other hand, has won three, drawn six, and lost eight of their 17 league games this season, totaling 15 points and placing them in 16th place in the table.
Los Franjiverdes ended 17th in their first season back at this level, so it is not surprising to see them towards the bottom of the division as the season comes to a close.
Elche, on the other hand, have been in fine form since Francisco took over as head coach at the end of November, winning three of their previous four matches in all competitions, two of which have come in the Copa del Rey against Leioa and Unionistas de Salamanca.
LIVE HD STREAM #BarcaElche
— EPL Live Stream (@EPL424) December 18, 2021
• Barcelona vs Elche
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#BarçaElche
— فاستر قول لتغطية الاهداف (@cq9slr) December 18, 2021
برشلونة 2 × 0 التشي | هددددف جابي 🎥
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to never miss any goal Follow @FA_GO7 pic.twitter.com/68eTlagesm
#BarçaElche ~ #PL
— فاستر قول لتغطية الاهداف (@cq9slr) December 18, 2021
برشلونة 1 × 0 التشي | هددددف فيران 🎥
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to never miss any goal Follow @FA_GO7 pic.twitter.com/7RcqE9DlNP
