Match ends, Elche 0, Barcelona 6.
ElcheElche0BarcelonaBarcelona6
Neymar and Lionel Messi both scored twice as Barcelona beat Elche to keep pace with La Liga leaders Real Madrid.
Gerard Pique opened the scoring with the visitors' only shot on target in a tight first half before Messi scored from the spot after the break.
Elche were reduced to 10 men when Faycal Fajr was sent off and Neymar scored a quick brace before Messi rifled in to complete his own double.
Pedro netted the sixth late on in a win that keeps Barca one point behind Real.
Barcelona boss Luis Enrique made six changes to the side that beat Atletico Madrid 1-0 in the Copa del Rey in midweek and benched Luis Suarez on his birthday, despite recently backing the £75m striker to rediscover his best goalscoring form.
Suarez, who netted 32 Premier League goals for Liverpool last season, has scored just five times in 17 games since his summer move to Spain and was replaced in the starting XI by Pedro on the right of an attacking triumvirate with Messi and Neymar.
Amid all the changes it was Elche who started quickly, with Jonathas and Fajr both going close to giving the hosts the lead at the Martinez Valero stadium before Barca defender Pique popped up at the far post to fire home from Xavi Hernandez's free-kick.
Barca had put 12 past Fran Escriba's side over three previous meetings this season and when Fajr was sent off moments after Messi had converted from the spot in the second half, following a foul on Neymar, this contest was all but over.
Brazilian Neymar twice latched on to through-balls from Messi to slot past goalkeeper Przemyslaw Tyton on 69 and 71 minutes and then his Argentine strike partner shimmied to wrong-foot a defender and add the fifth with two minutes left to play.
Neymar had the chance to secure a hat-trick late on but instead decided to square the ball for Pedro, who tapped home from a few yards out.
Barcelona have now won six consecutive games in all competitions and keep the pressure on their arch-rivals at the top the league.
Line-ups
Elche
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 25Tyton
- 2Suárez
- 3Roco
- 18PelegrínBooked at 35mins
- 5CismaBooked at 20minsSubstituted forAlbácar Gallegoat 61'minutes
- 8González MoralesSubstituted forRodríguez Lombánat 70'minutesBooked at 79mins
- 24Pasalic
- 17Rodríguez Romero
- 20FajrBooked at 57mins
- 7Ñíguez EsclapezBooked at 27minsSubstituted forCorominasat 82'minutes
- 22Cristian de JesusBooked at 40mins
Substitutes
- 1Herrera Yagüe
- 4Rodríguez Lombán
- 9Herrera
- 10Corominas
- 14Alonso Martín
- 19Giménez Candela
- 21Albácar Gallego
Barcelona
Formation 4-3-3
- 13Bravo
- 2Montoya
- 3Piqué
- 15Bartra
- 18AlbaBooked at 66minsSubstituted forCorreiaat 70'minutes
- 6HernándezSubstituted forRoberto Carnicerat 72'minutes
- 14MascheranoBooked at 62minsSubstituted forBusquetsat 70'minutes
- 12Rafinha
- 7Pedro
- 10Messi
- 11Neymar
Substitutes
- 1ter Stegen
- 5Busquets
- 8Iniesta
- 9Suárez
- 20Roberto Carnicer
- 21Correia
- 22Alves da Silva
- Referee:
- Carlos Clos Gómez
- Attendance:
- 28,235
Match Stats
Home TeamElcheAway TeamBarcelona
- Possession
- Home28%
- Away72%
- Shots
- Home6
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away8
- Corners
- Home2
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home18
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Elche 0, Barcelona 6.
Goal!
Goal! Elche 0, Barcelona 6. Pedro (Barcelona) left footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Neymar following a fast break.
Post update
Corner, Elche. Conceded by Martín Montoya.
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Foul by Sergio Busquets (Barcelona).
Post update
Jonathas (Elche) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Offside, Elche. Edu Albácar tries a through ball, but Jonathas is caught offside.
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Foul by Marc Bartra (Barcelona).
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Víctor Rodríguez (Elche) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Goal!
Goal! Elche 0, Barcelona 5. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Marc Bartra.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match Sergio Busquets (Barcelona) because of an injury.
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Delay in match Jonathas (Elche) because of an injury.
Post update
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Edu Albácar.
Substitution
Substitution, Elche. Coro replaces Aarón.
Post update
Attempt saved. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Booking
Lombán (Elche) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Neymar (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Lombán (Elche).
Post update
Sergio Busquets (Barcelona) wins a free kick on the right wing.
