Barcelona
registered a narrow 2-1 win over Elche in an away La Liga game on Sunday. Ferran Torres
and Memphis Depay scored in the second half to ensure Barcelona’s return with
full points.

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Elche
took the lead just before half-time when Fidel Chaves intercepted a poor pass
from Pedri before racing into the box and striking home.

Xavi
Hernandez brought in Torres at half-time and the move paid off. The
Spanish forward netted an equaliser on the hour mark, poking in from inside the
six-yard box.

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Barcelona
were awarded a penalty on 84 minutes following a handball by Antonio Barragan.
Referee Mario Melero Lopez consulted with the VAR before pointing to the spot
and Depay made no mistake as he rifled the penalty into the roof of the net.

Javier Pastore receives red card 

Elche
substitute Javier Pastore received a straight card for dissent following the
awarding of the penalty.

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Sunday’s
victory means Barcelona remain in third but have opened a three-point gap over
fifth-place Atletico Madrid.

Xavi
Hernández brought Ferran Torres off the bench to bring more attacking punch as
Barçalona searched for an equaliser, and it was the Spanish international
himself who gave the team big hopes of a comeback when he was in the right
place, at the right time to deflect a shot from Jordi Alba into the net and
make it 1-1 with a half-hour to go.

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Just
a few minutes before Ferran’s goal, Marc-André ter Stegen had made a stunning
save.

With
10 minutes remaining in the game, Elche asked for a penalty of their own when
the ball touched Alba’s arm after a corner, but he had his back turned to the
play and no intent whatsoever to play the ball with his hand, so VAR didn’t
recommend a penalty this time. But Elche continue to attack and search for a
late equalizer, and Barça showed excellent poise in the final minutes to run
out the clock and returned home with full points.