Barcelona defeated Elche 3-1 in their La Liga match on Saturday, widening their lead in the standings. The match, held at Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero, saw Barcelona dominate early, with Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres, and Marcus Rashford scoring for the Catalan side.

Barcelona wasted no time in asserting their dominance. Lamine Yamal opened the scoring in the 6th minute, capitalizing on a simple ball from Dani Olmo. Barcelona continued to apply pressure, with Ferran Torres and Olmo threatening to extend the lead. Ferran Torres then added a second goal, hitting the roof of the net from Frenkie de Jong's assist.

Elche struggled to cope with Barcelona's relentless attacks but managed to find a response in the 25th minute. Alvaro Rodríguez broke through Barcelona's offside trap and scored, reducing the deficit. Elche's goal gave them a glimmer of hope, but Barcelona maintained control of the game.

In the second half, Barcelona restored their two-goal lead. On-loan Manchester United winger Marcus Rashford, who had previously missed chances, unleashed an unstoppable shot into the net around the 61st minute. Despite Elche's efforts to mount a comeback, Barcelona's defense held firm, denying them any clear-cut opportunities. Elche's Rafa Mir hit the crossbar with a curling effort, but Barcelona maintained their advantage.

Barcelona's victory showcased their attacking prowess and defensive solidity. Lamine Yamal's performance was particularly noteworthy, earning him a high rating for his contributions to the team's success. The win allows Barcelona to maintain pressure on Real Madrid in the La Liga title race.

Following their 3-1 victory, Barcelona has now won 15 of their last 16 competitive games. Elche, in contrast, has struggled, with only two wins in their last 15 league games.