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Resurgent Barcelona on 10-Game Run

Elche Attempts to Shut Down High-Scoring Visitors

Xavi’s Barcelona have been the best team in La Liga since the transfer window closed and will put their 10-game unbeaten streak in the league on the line at Elche.

Elche have historically struggled with Barcelona, to say the least, and the soccer odds for Sunday’s match reflect that.

Barcelona Should Take Care of Business vs Elche
ANDREAS SOLARO / AFP

Elche vs Barcelona Betting Preview

  • Game: Elche CF vs FC Barcelona
  • Location: Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero, Elche, Spain
  • Date/Time: Sunday, 10:15 a.m. ET

Elche vs Barcelona Head to Head

Barcelona haven’t lost to Elche since the 1974-75 season and have been a great pick to bet online in this fixture. Since Elche’s latest promotion in 2020, Barcelona are 3-0 in this matchup.

Earlier this season, Nico Gonzalez got a late goal to give Barça a 3-2 win at the Camp Nou. The win was Barcelona’s seventh straight in this fixture.

Elche Avoiding Relegation

Elche lost 3-0 at last-place Levante last Friday. The loss was especially disappointing given that Elche have drawn with the likes of Real Madrid and defeated Villarreal in recent weeks. Los Franjiverdes are in 13th, eight points outside of the relegation zone, with less than a third of the season remaining but they’re not in the clear just yet.

They are, however, unbeaten in their last five La Liga home matches and have lost just twice at the Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero all season. The contrast between their home and away form is striking — Elche have picked up 20 points at home but just nine on the road. They also allow just a goal per game at home and nearly two per game on the road.

Despite good home form, they’ll have their work cut out for them against a Barcelona team that have been scoring in bunches. On the other hand, Elche are in the middle of the pack in La Liga in goals, but have two capable goal scorers in Lucas Boye and Pere Milla. They’ve both managed seven league goals and Boye just returned to the lineup from injury.

Elche will be missing midfielder Gerard Gumbau as he was sent off in their last match. Helibelton Palacios is also out with a hamstring injury.

Barcelona Firing on All Cylinders

Barcelona picked up two signature wins in the span of four days last week. Needing a win in their Thursday match vs Napoli to advance to the Europa League round of 16, Barça picked up a 4-2 victory. The match was as good as over early on in the second half as Barcelona took a 4-1 lead in the 59th minute and coasted until the final whistle. Then, Barcelona routed Athletic Bilbao 4-0 on Sunday behind three late goals.

The Catalan club have now scored four goals in each of their last three matches in all competitions and been one of the best recent soccer picks. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has five goals in that span and got Barcelona’s opener in their 4-0 rout of Athletic Bilbao. Ousmane Dembele was nearly forced out of the club in January, but Barcelona’s record signing recorded a goal and two assists as a substitute vs Bilbao.

Barça look like a force to be reckoned with now and Xavi seems to have settled into his role as head coach. Barcelona are also the favorites to win the Europa League and have a favorable matchup with Galatasaray in the Round of 16.

Still dealing with a few injuries, Barcelona will be missing Sergi Roberto, Samuel Umtiti, Ansu Fati and Alex Balde for this match.

Elche vs Barcelona Prediction

Barcelona have looked like they can beat anyone in the last few weeks and it’s hard not to expect goals from them after what they’ve done recently. In recent meetings vs Elche, it hasn’t been a question of if Barça will win, it’s by how many.

Despite Elche being a good home team, Barcelona should outclass them again and are a decent pick to cover the 1½-goal spread in the sportsbook.

Pick: Barcelona -1½ +(-125)

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