Elche vs. Barcelona: Match Preview, Predictions, and Lineups
Barcelona aims to secure their second consecutive La Liga victory when they face Elche on Saturday night. Currently, Barcelona sits one point ahead of Real Madrid in the standings, making this match crucial for their title aspirations. Elche, although impressive as a newly promoted side, find themselves just three points above the relegation zone with no wins in their last four matches. The home team hopes to defeat Barcelona for the first time since 1974, adding extra motivation to the matchup.
Match Details: Elche vs. Barcelona
Here are the essential details for the upcoming clash:
- Date: Saturday, January 31
- Kick-off Time: 3:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. PT / 8:00 p.m. GMT
- Location: Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero, Elche, Spain
Recent Form
Barcelona is currently on a winning streak, having won 10 of their last 11 league matches. In contrast, Elche’s recent form has been poor, with a record of:
- Last Five Matches: LDDL
Barcelona’s record in the same period shows remarkable resilience:
- Last Five Matches: WWWLW
Head-to-Head Record
In the last five encounters between the two teams:
- Elche: 0 wins
- Barcelona: 5 wins
- Draws: 0
The most recent match ended with Barcelona winning 3-1 against Elche on November 2, 2025.
Team News and Predicted Lineups
Elche Team News
Elche faces several injury challenges. Key players sidelined include:
- Álvaro Núñez
- Josan
- Aleix Febas (suspended)
However, Rafa Mir and André Silva could return to bolster their lineup. The predicted formation for Elche is 5-3-2:
- Goalkeeper: Iñaki Peña
- Defenders: Pedrosa, Chust, Affengruber, Pétrot, Valera
- Midfielders: Diangana, Aguado, Neto
- Forwards: Rodríguez, Silva
Barcelona Team News
Barcelona, under coach Hansi Flick, will likely make several adjustments from their previous Champions League match. Key available players include:
- Frenkie de Jong (returning from suspension)
- Marc Bernal (potential starter)
- Dani Olmo
- Ferran Torres (likely to start)
The predicted formation for Barcelona is 4-2-3-1:
- Goalkeeper: Eric García
- Defenders: João Cancelo, Cubarsí, García, Balde
- Midfielders: De Jong, Bernal
- Forwards: Yamal, Olmo, Raphinha, Torres
Match Prediction
Barcelona’s offense has shown considerable strength, even while defensive weaknesses persist. Despite their vulnerabilities, they are expected to overpower Elche’s depleted side. Thus, the predicted score is:
Elche 1 – 3 Barcelona
For live updates and more on the match, stay tuned to Filmogaz.com.
