Beccacece’s first time in Elche was a reality check: Barcelona beat him 4-0 and sink into La Liga

There were no surprises between the La Liga leader, who is on his way to the title, and the latter, who look set for relegation: Barcelona beat Elche 4-0 at the Martínez Valero stadium. It was superior even without offering its best version. He achieved this with the hierarchy of his individualities and with his sobriety to manage the development of the game.

Barcelona knew it was a match with a central problem: do not trust the backstory that tells the story or the weak present of his rival (last, now with Sebastián Beccacece as the pilot of a storm that seems impassable).

And here’s how the Catalan giant played it out: with the seriousness that corresponded, with the ball as a legacy, with the will to reach the goal early to generate serenity. And she did it through her he field specialist. In the 19th minute, with a definition from the right (biting but effective), Robert Lewandowski – the league’s top scorer – scored the first goal.

With the 1-0 the time has come to manage the game and the physique: on Wednesday they will receive the real Madrid for the semifinals of King’s Cup. In the first leg the culés won 1-0. As a result, coach Xavi Hernández managed resources and efforts. Of course, trying not to offer any advantage, beyond the fact that the championship already seems like a path towards consecration: he takes 15 points from the Real Madrid escort (who faces Valladolid on Sunday at the 27th).

The incredible case of Elche, the Bragarnik club

Elche it’s at the bottom of the bottom. Last comfortable: at the beginning of the appointment he was 13 points behind the penultimate, Valencia, and 14 from the safety zone. Mission impossible for the former Defense and Justice coach, among others.

What follows is the chronicle of an announced decline: The team, owned by Argentine entrepreneur Cristian Bragarnik since December 2019, has changed its coach and shirt. With his debut, Beccacece becomes the sixth in charge of a team that before his arrival had just won two games and scored 51 goals.

The first to arrive and leave was Francisco Rodríguez Vílchez, who had already replaced Fran Escribá halfway through the previous season. After adding just one draw and six defeats, he was temporarily replaced by Alberto Gallego in October, who drew 1-1 against Mallorca in his only match. Next was a Bragarnik Navy flagship, Jorge Almirón. Two draws, three defeats and out, to wait for another round. Sergio Mantecón’s tenure was even shorter (one game, one defeat). He was followed by Pablo Machín, who had two wins in 14 games and a kind “until the next time”. Then came another classic from the Bragarnik clan, Becca di Rosario.

He put the words to him upon his arrival, in his first press conference: “Being able to receive this team, with all its numbers, its history, its greatness and its coach, must be something festive for the city. It is an opportunity of “great difficulty that motivates and excites us. The day I think I can’t get results I don’t train anymore”.

The truth of the playing field

At match time, Elche were well above expectations in the first half. Predictable starting setup: 4-4-1-1, with Lautaro Blanco (already called up by Lionel Scaloni in the select world champion) as a midfielder, beyond the fact that he is a frequent left-back.

The difference in terms of ball possession (from 71% to 29% in favor of the blaugrana) was not matched in terms of shots: 5-4 in favor of the leaders. Details of the statistics that have failed to change the feeling of measured superiority of the Catalans.

Finally, these precious initial sensations from Elche were already found 10′ after the second half with another blow: a great play and a great goal by Ansu Fati. A play that if it had happened at the Camp Nou would have continued with an ovation from those who take the slots.

As if that weren’t enough, at 21, the visitor sealed the victory and the beginning of the victory. Again Lewandowski, again from the right, again he bit him, again he made no mistake. Three to zero and a premature end for the aspirations of the new Elche so similar to all the previous ones of this season.

There was more time and more goals: at 25 it was Ferrán Torres who celebrated. Now, for Xavi’s team, Wednesday’s appointment will remain on the horizon, as the most important match. The trial before an Elche in rags passed him with solvency and breadth.