Barcelona welcomes Elche to Camp Nou for another exclusive La Liga fixture this weekend. Barcelona will be looking to return to their winning ways while Elche is avoiding the relegation zone. Kickoff schedules for 18th December 2021 at 20:30 EAT.
This match should provide a nice opportunity for Xavi and the Catalans to get their campaign up and running with a three-pointer in front of the home crowd. Having lost two and drew one of the last three games in all competitions, they will be looking to rebound in this game.
The Catalans shared spoils 2-2 in their previous La Liga meeting versus Osasuna. In that match, Barcelona had 62% possession and shots with 2 of them on target and goals scored by scored by Nico González (12′) and Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (49′). CA Osasuna got eight shots with three of them on target and goals by David García (14′) and Ezequiel Ávila (86′) scored for Osasuna.
Meanwhile, the visiting side is in 16th place in the La Liga standings and has struggled to impose them in the top flight this season. Elche lost six out of nine away outings this season, conceding 14 goals along the way.
Elche CF comes into this game hoping for similar results as their previous outing that ended in 0-1 Copa Del Rey win versus Unionistas. In that fixture, Elche CF had 65% possession, three shots with only of them on target and a goals scored by Fernando Roman (90+3’). Unionistas had 14 shots with five of them on target.
We anticipate plenty of goals in this game considering that Barcelona averaged 2.75 goals per game in La Liga this season, while Elche averaged 2.35 goals per game so far in the league. Also it’s only two of the previous six meeting between these two sides that ended with goals fewer than 2.5.
Barcelona vs Elche head to head
Barcelona has an excellent record in the nine matches they have played against Elche since 2014. Barca won in eight meeting while the other one ended in a stalemate.
- Barcelona 3-0 Elche 24/02/21
- Elche 0-2 Barcelona 24/01/21
- Barcelona 1-0 Elche 19/09/20
- Elche 0-6 Barcelona 24/01/15
- Elche 0-4 Barcelona 16/01/15
Home
- Barcelona 2-4 Boca Juniors
- Osasuna 2-2 Barcelona
- Munich 3-0 Barcelona
- Barcelona 0-1 Real Betis
- Villarreal 1-3 Barcelona
Away
- Unionistas 0-1 Elche
- Valencia 2-1 Elche
- Elche 3-1 Cadiz
- Leioa 0-2 Elche
- Osasuna 1-1 Elche
Barcelona team news
Barcelona has many sidelined players at the moment, the likes of Sergino Dest, Memphis Depay, Jordi Alba, Sergi Roberto, Pedri, Ansu Fati and Martin Braithwaite, while Gerard Pique is suspended.
Elche tea news
The only absentee for the visitors remains to be Pedro Bigas with injury.
Prediction and odds
Barcelona is our best pick to win in this game.
- Barcelona Win
- Goals over 2.5
- Both teams to score
