Prediction: Elche vs Barcelona

Prediction: Barcelona win

Best Odds: 4/11

Bookmaker: 888sport

This season’s La Liga has seen Atletico Madrid emerge as the clear favourites to win the title with the usual top dogs, Barcelona and Real Madrid, trailing behind in a big way. Barca especially seem to be garnering quite a lot of attention for their inability to challenge as they have done in years gone by, and games like this are going to serve as the real test for them moving forward throughout the campaign as they prepare to take on relegation contenders Elche.

Elche

The spirit of Elche as a club is keeping them alive in this league and as we look ahead to the rest of the season, you’d have to think they are going to be scratching and clawing in an attempt to survive until the very last day. They may not have the most quality littered throughout their squad but they’re definitely fun to watch, and that’s more than can be said for a lot of La Liga teams.

Team News

Fidel is the only player who is officially ruled out of this one for Elche with the following being fitness doubts: Morente, Carrillo, Luismi, Calvo and Mfulu. Boye is fully fit and should feature with Marcone also being back after a ban.

Barcelona

Barcelona under Ronald Koeman may not be the finished product that many fans want them to be, but we’re still of the belief that they possess a lot of potential. They haven’t quite been able to showcase that so far this season but we all know they’re in a rebuilding phase, and with Lionel Messi being tipped to leave sooner rather than later, there needs to be some leniency afforded to them – unless you’re a rival supporter, that is.

Team News

The aforementioned Messi is banned after picking up a red card with Dest being a fitness doubt due to a muscle problem. Elsewhere, the following players are out through injury: Fati, Roberto, Pique and Coutinho – meaning that Koeman has some serious shuffling to do.

Factors to Consider

• Elche are in 18th place with 17 points whereas Barcelona are in 3rd place with 34 points.
• Elche have won one, drawn two and lost three of their last six games.
• Barcelona have won four and drawn two of their last six games.
• Elche have scored five goals and conceded nine in their last six games.
• Barcelona have scored 12 goals and conceded four in their last six games.

Conclusion

We do think Elche have what it takes to push Barcelona all the way, but in the end, the visitors should just have a bit too much for them. There’s a clear divide in talent but passion is so often what matters at this level – unless you’re going up against a team with as many superstars as Barca. The title race is starting to heat up and Barcelona need to dig deep, which is what we’re expecting them to do in this game.

Prediction: Barcelona win

Best Odds: 4/11

Bookmaker: 888sport