Elche vs Barcelona: TV channel, live stream, team news & prediction
Elche host La Liga's in-form side Barcelona in the Spanish top flight on Sunday afternoon.
Since Francisco replaced the legendary figure of Fran Escriba in late November, Elche have collected 18 points from 12 league games, just four fewer than Xavi's revitalised Barcelona in the same time frame.
Here's all you need to know about a meeting between this pair.
How to watch Elche vs Barcelona on TV/live stream
When is kick off? Sunday 6 March, 15:15 (GMT)
Where is the match being played? Estadio Martinez Valero
TV channel/live stream? LaLigaTV (UK), ESPN+ (US), TSN (Canada)
Highlights? La Liga YouTube
Referee? Mario Melero Lopez
VAR? Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea
Elche team news
Elche's midfielder Gerard Gumbau was shown a straight red card during the club's galling defeat to rock-bottom Levante last week.
Alongside the suspended Gumbau, Elche are expected to be without Javier Pastore. The former Paris Saint-Germain man has only made five starts all term and is carrying a muscle injury.
Right-back Helibelton Palacios has missed the last two matches with a hamstring concern that leaves his involvement doubtful.
Barcelona team news
The raft of options at Xavi's disposal going forward has reduced the crushing pressure on Ansu Fati to force his way back from a hamstring injury early. However, that hasn't stopped the ambitious youngster dreaming of a return sooner than the one scheduled for late March.
Alejandro Balde has been placed on a similar recovery trajectory as he nurses a hamstring injury but fellow left-back Jordi Alba has served his suspension. Samuel Umtiti isn't likely to shake off a problem with his foot until April.
Sergi Roberto has been sidelined by a tendon injury since October but is creeping closer to a return.
Elche vs Barcelona head-to-head record
It's all gone wrong for Barcelona! ?
— Premier Sports (@PremierSportsTV) December 18, 2021
Pere Milla heads in and two goals in two minutes have Elche level ⚪? pic.twitter.com/zkOPcFqmyU
A 3-2 win at Camp Nou in December extended Barcelona's unbeaten run to 18 consecutive La Liga matches against Elche. However, it wasn't entirely straightforward.
A quick-fire double from Tete Morente and Pere Milla not only levelled the score at 2-2 but ended a 43-year wait for Elche to find the net in a top-flight match against the Catalans.
Nevertheless, Elche haven't beaten Barcelona in La Liga since Melenchon scored the only goal in a victory against Johan Cruyff's Blaugrana in 1974.
Elche vs Barcelona score prediction
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— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 1, 2022
Francisco has managed to haul Elche away from the relegation scrap by picking up points against the sides around them. Aside from Friday's anomalous loss to Levante, the incoming manager has only been beaten by Real Madrid, Sevilla, Valencia and their upcoming visitors.
Barcelona's run of seven games unbeaten is the club's longest all season as Xavi seems to have overcome some of the teething problems he endured upon his initial return to the club - even if the recent victories have been misleadingly emphatic.
Prediction: Elche 1-3 Barcelona