By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Barcelona eased to a 3-1 win at Elche to move four points clear at the top of La Liga, with goals from Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres and Marcus Rashford.
The reigning champions took a sixth-minute lead when Dani Olmo threaded through Yamal and the 18-year-old rounded Elche goalkeeper Inaki Pena before passing into an empty net.
Elche, who last defeated Barcelona in December 1974, equalised through Alvaro Rodriguez, who beat the visitors’ high line and calmly found the far corner after 29 minutes.
But Hansi Flick’s side restored their lead 11 minutes later when Torres blasted Frenkie De Jong’s cut-back into the roof of the net.
Manchester United loanee Rashford came off the bench at half-time and added a third with a tap-in following a low pass across goal from Yamal.
“We played a fantastic game today – except in the final meters,” Flick said. “Normally in the first half we would have decided this game.”
Meanwhile Atletico Madrid was held to a scoreless draw at relegation-threatened Levante, three days after it fell at Bodo/Glimt 2-1 in the Champions League. The result left third-placed Atletico 10 points behind Barcelona.
Elsewhere Oviedo ended a 15-match winless run after edging Girona 1-0 at home thanks to a second-half goal by Ilyas Chaira. Oviedo, which was promoted this season, hadn’t won since late September. Oviedo remained in last place at six points from safety.