Barcelona Secures Narrow Victory Over Elche With Early Goal

In a LaLiga fixture held on January 31, 2026, FC Barcelona triumphed 1-0 against Elche at the Estadio Martínez Valero, solidifying their position atop the league standings. The decisive moment came early when Barcelona's Lamine Yamal scored in the 6th minute, the only goal of the match.

Barcelona maintained control for much of the game, holding 58.8% possession compared to Elche's 41.2%. Despite this, clear scoring opportunities were limited, with Barcelona registering one shot on target and Elche none.

Ahead of the match, Elche's coach Sarabia made several lineup adjustments, including the return of Mendoza due to Febas's absence and John replacing Petrot in defense. Up front, André Da Silva partnered with Álvaro Rodríguez to lead Elche's attack. The rest of Elche's starting eleven featured Iñaki Peña in goal, with Pedrosa, Chust, Affengruber, John, Aguado, Mendoza, Diangana, Álvaro Rodríguez, and André Da Silva completing the lineup.

This win allowed Barcelona to secure 52 points from 21 matches, with a record of 17 wins, 1 draw, and 3 losses, and a formidable goal difference of +35. Elche, meanwhile, remains in 12th place with 24 points, having achieved 5 wins, 9 draws, and 7 losses this season.

The match was broadcast live on M+ LaLiga and LaLiga TV Bar, with minute-by-minute updates provided by La Vanguardia. It kicked off at 21:00, drawing significant attention given Barcelona’s pursuit of LaLiga supremacy and Elche’s efforts to climb the standings.

As Barcelona continues to lead the table, Elche looks to regroup as the season progresses. The victory reinforces Barcelona’s status as the team to beat in the league, while Elche faces the challenge of improving results in their upcoming fixtures.