Barcelona vs Elche: Flick's team returns to Montjuïc with the obligation to win

FC Barcelona and Elche CF face off this Sunday at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium in Montjuïc. The Blaugrana team returns home after the defeat in the Clásico against Real Madrid (2-1) with the obligation to win to prevent the 'merengues' from escaping to an 8 or 6 point lead in LaLiga.

Xabi Alonso's team's thrashing of Valencia (4-0) puts Hansi Flick's team, momentarily, 8 points behind, prior to the match against a very uncomfortable opponent. The Elche team has only lost 2 games in the first 10 rounds after their return to LaLiga and, in defense, has conceded a couple of goals less than Barça (10).

In the League, both teams have faced each other on 48 occasions, with 28 Catalan victories, 12 draws, and only 8 victories for the 'franjiverdes'. In Elche's last season in Primera, the result was two Barça routs: 3-0 at Camp Nou and 0-4 at the Manuel Martínez Valero.

• 📺 Where and when to watch the match: the channels that broadcast the Barcelona-Elche match SEE

Barça seeks a new victory in Montjuïc, prior to the return to Camp Nou

In that sense, beyond Eder Sarabia's team's good start to the season, Barça arrives as a clear favorite to take the 3 points in Matchday 11. The last time Elche avoided falling against the Azulgrana team was in 13/14 (0-0 in Elche's stadium).

To find a league victory for the 'franjiverdes' against the 'culés,' you have to go back to 74/75 (1-0), and on Catalan soil, Barcelona has only drawn 7 times against Elche, with 17 wins in 24 matches.

Flick's team plays its third league match on Sunday in Montjuïc, after two tight victories against Real Sociedad and Girona (both by 2-1). The team is not going through its best moment, with a couple of defeats in its last three matches and is once again diminished by problems with injuries.

However, the week off after the Clásico has been good for a squad hard hit by absences (6). Elche, meanwhile, are coming off a defeat in Cornellà against Espanyol the previous matchday (1-0), although the Elche team celebrated on Wednesday in their debut in the Copa del Rey (0-4 against UD Los Garres).

• ℹ️ List of players called up: the players summoned by Hansi Flick for the Barcelona-Elche match: SEE

Hansi Flick will rotate again in defense against Elche

Ronald Araujo and Marc Casadó training at the Ciutat Esportiva

For Hansi Flick, the match against Elche comes with 6 absentees due to injury. In addition to Ter Stegen, Gavi, Joan García and Raphinha, Pedri González and Andreas Christensen will also be unavailable. The Dane remains on the sidelines due to a problem in his right soleus, while the midfielder, who was also out due to suspension in J11, suffers a muscle injury.

The '8' will be out for at least a month, being, along with Raphinha and Joan García, the most notable absences for a Barça side that welcomes back Robert Lewandowski and Dani Olmo. Both will be on the bench for the first time since the defeat in Seville before the October break.

Understanding that the defense continues to be Barça's weak point (the team has conceded in 7 consecutive matches), it is likely that Flick will make adjustments in his back line. Ronald Araujo could return to the center, while Eric García may relieve Jules Koundé on the right side.

The other expected change in the starting XI is the entry of Marc Casadó for Pedri in midfield, accompanying Frenkie de Jong. Fermín López should remain as an attacking midfielder, while Lamine Yamal and Marcus Rashford would complete the offensive trident alongside Ferran Torres.

• 👉 Lineups: the possible starting XI for FC Barcelona and Elche: SEE

Elche seeks to salvage at least a draw in Montjuïc

Eder Sarabia's team, on the other hand, arrives at matchday 11 of LaLiga without any injured or suspended players. Understanding that the Elche team has already salvaged a couple of draws as visitors this season (2-2 in Seville and 1-1 against Osasuna), the 'franjiverde' objective will clearly be to salvage at least one point in Montjuïc.

The last time Elche came away 'alive' from a visit to Barça was in the 74/75 season (0-0 at Camp Nou), a season in which the 'Culés' lost 4 points in the head-to-head against their rival this Sunday. The match of matchday 11 will allow the return of Iñaki Peña to what was his home until last summer. 

The man from Alicante has earned his place in the starting lineup and will try to stop the Barça offense, which has so far scored 25 goals in 10 matches (2.5 per match). In fact, Flick's team has accumulated 49 consecutive official matches scoring, the best streak in its 125-year history. Despite the casualties and the obligation to win, there is confidence and plenty of time to correct and return to the path of victory.

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