Win to regain confidence: Barça wants to 'retaliate' with Elche

Harp, prowess and illusion. It is what needs a FC Barcelona that walks without course in LaLiga Santander. For the ones of Xavi Hernández has arrived the decisive moment to give a hit on the table and show that they want to litigate by this League and for rescuing a season that, if it follows this rhythm, will be a bitter memory of nightmares. They remain two parties to close the 2021 and the Barcelona will have to leave, once and for all, his ghosts to a side.

The Elche is the penultimate rival of the Barça of this year and, probably, the one who in theory the picture directed by Xavi Hernández would have to surpass without difficulties, but in a Barcelona starred by the surprises, anything can happen. It is not a secret that the team has not found his identity and that is 'hurt' after the last hits in League and Champions League. The results neither feelings 'back' to the culés and tie up the three points against the group ilicitano becomes key to conserve the illusions in the team.

The balloon will throw to film to the 18:30 hours (in Spain) and the commitment has to be maximum. The Barça initiates the day in the eighth position and to 18 points of the leadership, occupied by the Real Madrid, although with a party less. It is the precise moment to try recortar distances in the classification, put in European places and look for finish the 2021 with better feelings of which has left the Barcelona square to date... But how they can achieve this?

The Barça has in favour that arrives more 'rested' that the Elche, that played Glass of the King this week. However, the Barcelona have to be very conscious that with the arrival of Francisco to the group 'franjiverde', the image has changed him to the team and the results are the best proof of this. Only they have lost one of his last five parties in all the competitions, against Valencia (2-1). They land in the City Condal after winning to Unionistas of Salamanca in the second round of the Glass, by 0-1, and bring confidence, but also tiredness.

The history, to 'favour' of the Barça

The statistics also are in favour of the Barça, but is not a secret that all the figures and registers erase just when it begins to film the balloon. The case is that, the Elche never has won to the Barcelona in the Camp Nou. They are, in fact, 46 years of this negative series and 43 without achieving annotate a goal, although it is true that in a few years have not existed clashes by the differences between the categories.

Besides, it fits to highlight that the picture culé has not lost in his last 17 parties of League in front of the Elche, with thirteen victories and four ties. The series began from a defeat by 1-0 in the month of December of 1974 and, since, also have left the goal to certo in the last ten meetings. In total, in the Camp Nou have played 22 parties, with 15 triumphs for the culés and other seven ties.

Like this they arrive Barça and Elche

It is not a secret for anybody that the Barça is living his more irregular moment in a lot of years and that the performances of the team do not invite to the hope. The culés alone have won six parties in the first 16 days of LaLiga, with six ties and four defeats, which is the lowest figure from the season 2003-2004. The performance of the team is very underneath of the expected and the drops do not invite to the optimism. Pedri González, Martin Braithwaite, Ansu Fati, Gerard Hammered, Sergi Roberto or Memphis Depay will have to see the party from the terracings. All by injury, less the central Catalan (accumulation of cards).

The Elche, by his part, only has won one of his last nine clashes in LaLiga (3-1 vs. Cádiz) with three ties and five defeats. Only they have achieved a triumph to domicile in what it goes of season, against the Getafe (0-1). However, Francisco arrives without 'fear' to the Camp Nou. In press conference, recognised that: "we confront Us to a rival that perhaps is not in his best moment, but always is very difficult to play against the Barça. Has players very young, but that will give a lot that speak in the future. Not to confuse us, will suffer a lot of".

Technical index card of the party: FC Barcelona-Elche

• Party: FC Barcelona-Elche
• Competition: LaLiga
• Stadium: Camp Nou
• Television: Saturday 18 December to the 18:30 hours (in Spain)
• Calendar 2021-2022: League Santander, Champions League, Glass of Rey