Robert Lewandowski scored twice as Barcelona edged closer to a first La Liga title since 2019 with a thumping win at Elche.
The Poland striker opened the scoring with a scuffed finish in the 20th minute and Ansu Fati added the second eight minutes into the second half.
Gavi teed up Lewandowski to score the third and Ferran Torres extended the lead further in the 70th minute.
Barcelona are now 15 points clear of second-placed Real Madrid.
Elche were playing their first match under Sebastian Beccacece – their fourth permanent manager of the season – but after a solid first-half showing lost their way after the break and remain 14 points from safety at the foot of the table.
Lewandowski put Barcelona ahead with their first real chance of the game when Jordi Alba’s free-kick was headed down to him by Ronald Araujo and his miskick looped into the far corner.
The La Liga top scorer should have added a second late in the half but headed over from point-blank range.
The hosts’ best chance came when Jose Angel Carmona was put clean through only to feel his hamstring go as he burst clear and lose his footing.
Three minutes later, Fati was able to run from inside his own half and drill the ball into the bottom corner as the Elche defence backed off.
Lewandowski made it three with another untidy but effective finish on 66 minutes, before Torres completed the scoring with a curling effort from the edge of the box.
Real Madrid have the chance narrow the gap to 12 points again when they host Real Valladolid on Sunday.
Line-ups
Elche
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 13Badia
- 14Palacios Zapata
- 6Bigas
- 21Mascarell
- 23Clerc Martínez
- 11Morente OlivaSubstituted forFerrández Pomaresat 65′minutes
- 40CarmonaSubstituted forGutiérrez Parejoat 54′minutes
- 20Gumbau Garriga
- 2BlancoSubstituted forFernández Mercauat 65′minutes
- 16Chaves de la Torre
- 10MillaSubstituted forPonceat 76′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Werner
- 4González
- 5Verdú
- 7Magallán
- 8Gutiérrez Parejo
- 15Collado Gutiérrez
- 17Ferrández Pomares
- 19Ponce
- 22Fernández Mercau
- 24Lirola
- 26Donald
Barcelona
Formation 4-3-3
- 1ter Stegen
- 23Koundé
- 4AraújoBooked at 74minsSubstituted forTorreat 78′minutes
- 17Alonso
- 18Alba
- 30GaviBooked at 60minsSubstituted forKessiéat 68′minutes
- 24García
- 20Roberto
- 11F Torres
- 9LewandowskiBooked at 87mins
- 10Ansu FatiSubstituted forGarridoat 84′minutes
Substitutes
- 5Busquets
- 13Peña Sotorres
- 19Kessié
- 28Balde
- 29Casadó
- 32Torre
- 36Tenas
- 38Alarcón
- 39Pedrola Fortuny
- 40Garrido
- Referee:
- Carlos del Cerro Grande
- Attendance:
- 28,142
Live Text
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Match ends, Elche 0, Barcelona 4.
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Second Half ends, Elche 0, Barcelona 4.
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Attempt missed. Pedro Bigas (Elche) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Nicolás Fernández Mercau with a cross.
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Corner, Elche. Conceded by Marc-André ter Stegen.
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Attempt saved. Josan (Elche) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Fidel with a through ball.
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Attempt blocked. Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Marc-André ter Stegen.
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Attempt blocked. Nicolás Fernández Mercau (Elche) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Raúl Guti.
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Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona).
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Pedro Bigas (Elche) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Attempt missed. Raúl Guti (Elche) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Fidel with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Elche. Conceded by Eric García.
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Attempt blocked. Raúl Guti (Elche) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Fidel (Elche) hits the bar with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Josan with a cross.
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Substitution, Barcelona. Aleix Garrido replaces Ansu Fati.
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Foul by Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona).
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Pedro Bigas (Elche) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Clerc (Elche) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
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Attempt missed. Josan (Elche) left footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Nicolás Fernández Mercau with a cross.
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Corner, Elche. Conceded by Marcos Alonso.