Barcelona squander opportunities yet defeat Elche to boost La Liga advantage

Barcelona missed several promising opportunities but managed to pull four points ahead at the summit of La Liga on Saturday, securing a 3-1 victory over Elche with strikes from Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres, and Marcus Rashford.

In other matches, third-placed Atletico Madrid played out a goalless stalemate against struggling Levante, while Villarreal also shared the spoils in a 2-2 tie away to Osasuna.

Alvaro Arbeloas Real Madrid, sitting in second, will welcome Rayo Vallecano on Sunday with hopes of narrowing the deficit to the frontrunners down to just one point.

Under Hansi Flick, Barca generated numerous clear-cut chances in a lively encounter, yet the frame of the goal and wayward shots prevented a more convincing triumph.

Elche, positioned 12th, have shown promise throughout the campaign and fashioned decent openings themselves at the Martinez Valero venue, but Barca proved superior overall, notwithstanding their erratic completing.

"You need to settle the match in the opening period, I prefer it when the squad converts their openings into scores," Flick remarked to the press.

"We produced plenty of opportunities but failed to bury them in front of the net, thats the downside, though ultimately I reassured the group that Im pleased with the victory and commended their display."

Young sensation Yamal broke the deadlock in the sixth minute following a through ball from Dani Olmo. The 18-year-old elegantly chipped ex-Barca custodian Inaki Pena before tapping in.

Olmo struck the bar prior to Elche levelling terms through a slick team effort that positioned Alvaro Rodriguez beyond Barcas advanced defence.

Torres ought to have regained the lead for the Catalans, but in a farcical incident, he struck the upright from close proximity and then deflected the follow-up off the woodwork.

The Spanish forward atoned by blasting in after excellent interplay involving Frenkie de Jong prior to the interval.

Fermin Lopez, Raphinha, and Torres all spurned solid chances for further strikes as Barca threatened relentlessly, with Elche manager Eder Sarabia, previously an assistant at Barca alongside Quique Setien, maintaining his attacking approach.

Rashford too wasted a promising moment after replacing Raphinha during the break, bending his effort wide while bearing down on goal.

The English forward, loaned from Manchester United, netted Barcas third, his tenth across competitions this term, when Yamals delivery was parried and looped invitingly his way.

"Usually our forwards are sharp finishers, perhaps in one fixture you squander your shots, but the key is that we are producing them," De Jong shared with Movistar.

Atletico and Villarreal forfeit points

Diego Simeones Atletico appeared lacklustre at Levante, managing only a draw against the 19th-ranked outfit and now trail Barca by 10 points.

Atletico have secured just one win in their previous four fixtures spanning all tournaments, and earlier this week they fell to Norways Bodo/Glimt, dropping them into the Champions League play-off round rather than advancing straight to the knockout stage.

"Failing to claim the win today stings," conceded Atletico defender Robin Le Normand.

Compounding the woes, Atletico forward Alexander Sorloth and midfielder Pablo Barrios both exited injured.

Sorloth departed following a head collision with Matias Moreno, and the Norwegian was transported to hospital for additional evaluation.

Barrios hobbled away soon after the restart, leaving Atletico, who began brightly, short on invention afterwards without their dynamic playmaker.

Simeone, advocating for reinforcements at Atletico, noted that the possible absences would prompt strategic reflections.

"It sparks innovation in the managers role. Being tested as a tactician is beneficial, and this pushes me to evolve," he commented.

Gerard Moreno bagged a brace for Villarreal, yet they settled for a point at Osasuna, failing to build on Espanyols loss and solidify fourth spot.

Marcelino Garcia Torals team lead fifth-placed Espanyol by eight points, following the latters 2-1 home reverse to Alaves on Friday.

For a spell this season, Villarreal hovered near the title contenders, but recent results of two losses and a draw in their last three league games have tempered those aspirations.

"We aimed for victory but we should depart content, as we earned a point following two blank outings," Moreno stated to Movistar.