Robert Lewandowski scored twice as Barcelona moved top of La Liga with a comfortable win over 10-man Elche.
The Poland international scored either side of the break to take his tally to 11 goals in eight appearances since joining Barca in the summer.
In between, Memphis Depay opened his account with a powerful effort into the roof of the net.
Visiting captain Gonzalo Verdu was sent off in the 14th minute for pulling Lewandowski down when he was through.
From there it proved a routine victory for Xavi’s side, with 25 efforts on goal to Elche’s one.
Alejandro Balde teed up Lewandowski for his first of the game, Depay added a second and Pedri had a third ruled out after VAR intervened before the Pole scored his eighth goal in six matches in the Spanish top flight.
Barca now sit a point above Real Madrid at the top of the table, with Carlo Ancelotti’s side travelling to play city rivals Atletico on Sunday evening (20:00 BST).
Line-ups
Barcelona
Formation 4-3-3
- 1ter Stegen
- 23Koundé
- 4Araújo
- 24GarcíaSubstituted forBellerínat 59′minutes
- 28Balde
- 19KessieBooked at 5minsSubstituted forPáez Gaviraat 45′minutes
- 21de Jong
- 8González
- 7DembéléSubstituted forRaphinhaat 60′minutes
- 9LewandowskiSubstituted forTorresat 72′minutesBooked at 73mins
- 14DepaySubstituted forFati Vieiraat 59′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Bellerín
- 3Piqué
- 5Busquets
- 10Fati Vieira
- 11Torres
- 15Christensen
- 17Alonso
- 18Alba
- 22Raphinha
- 26Peña Sotorres
- 30Páez Gavira
- 36Tenas
Elche
Formation 5-4-1
- 13Badia
- 14Palacios Zapata
- 26Donald
- 5VerdúBooked at 14mins
- 6BigasSubstituted forGonzálezat 77′minutes
- 23Clerc
- 11Morente OlivaSubstituted forPonceat 68′minutes
- 8Gutiérrez ParejoSubstituted forFernández Mercauat 53′minutesBooked at 70mins
- 20Gumbau
- 16Chaves de la TorreBooked at 28minsSubstituted forQuinaat 53′minutes
- 9BoyéSubstituted forFerrández Pomaresat 68′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Werner
- 2Fernández
- 3Roco
- 4González
- 7Pastore
- 12Quina
- 15Collado
- 17Ferrández Pomares
- 18Martí
- 19Ponce
- 22Fernández Mercau
- 28López
- Referee:
- Alejandro Muñiz Ruiz
- Attendance:
- 85,073
Live Text
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Match ends, Barcelona 3, Elche 0.
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Second Half ends, Barcelona 3, Elche 0.
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Ferran Torres (Barcelona) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Helibelton Palacios (Elche).
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Attempt saved. Carlos Clerc (Elche) header from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Nicolás Fernández Mercau.
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Foul by Raphinha (Barcelona).
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Gerard Gumbau (Elche) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Offside, Barcelona. Raphinha tries a through ball, but Ferran Torres is caught offside.
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Offside, Elche. Gerard Gumbau tries a through ball, but Josan is caught offside.
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Foul by Gavi (Barcelona).
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Domingos Quina (Elche) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Attempt missed. Ronald Araújo (Barcelona) left footed shot from very close range is close, but misses to the left following a corner.
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Attempt missed. Ansu Fati (Barcelona) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Raphinha with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Helibelton Palacios.
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Attempt blocked. Ansu Fati (Barcelona) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is blocked. Assisted by Gavi.
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Attempt saved. Ferran Torres (Barcelona) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Pedri with a through ball.
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Substitution, Elche. Diego González replaces Pedro Bigas because of an injury.
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Foul by Raphinha (Barcelona).
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Domingos Quina (Elche) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Ansu Fati (Barcelona) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box misses to the right. Assisted by Pedri with a through ball.
