Messi scores twice as Barcelona beat Elche

TIL Desk Sports/  FC Barcelona kept their slim title hopes alive after a brace from Lionel Messi and one from Jordi Alba gave them a 3-0 win at home to Elche, which leaves them five points behind La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid.

Barca coach Ronald Koeman said in his pre-game press conference that this game and Saturday’s trip to Sevilla were vital for his side’s title chances, and he made changes to try and keep his squad fresh. Samuel Umtiti, Francisco Trincao, Oscar Mingueza, Martin Braithwaite and Miralem Pjanic all started, with Clement Lenglet, Sergino Dest, Antoine Griezmann, Sergio Busquets and Ousmane Dembele dropping to the bench.

The game started brightly and Elche, buoyed by their first win in almost four months at the weekend, had the first chance when Lucas Boye fired over when he had the goal at his mercy. Barca looked to hit back and Elche keeper Edgar Badia produced a reflex stop to deny Trincao, who had dribbled past two defenders in a move started by Frenkie de Jong. Trincao had another effort on target after a pass from Braithwaite and again looked lively for Barca in a disjointed first 45 minutes.