Robert Lewandowski’s latest Barcelona double helped take them another step closer to the LaLiga title with a 4-0 win over rock-bottom Elche on Saturday.
Goals from the Poland international either side of Ansu Fati’s finish helped the Blaugrana cruise to a comfortable victory at the Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero.
Ferran Torres added a fourth as Xavi’s visitors moved 15 points clear of second-placed Real Madrid in the table to further underline their domestic dominance this season.
For Sebastian Beccacece, Elche’s fourth different boss of the season, it was a chastening reminder of the task ahead.
Barca pressed hard for the opener from the start and were duly rewarded after 20 minutes when Lewandowski converted Ronald Araujo’s header from Jordi Alba’s free-kick.
But Lewandowski missed a golden opportunity to double the visitors’ lead before the break with a flying header, as did Jules Kounde when he saw his shot covered by Edgar Badia.
However, the Blaugrana were more ruthless in the second half.
Fati finished off a fluid breakaway move with a cool, low finish to put Barca two goals up in the 56th minute.
Lewandowski was on hand 10 minutes later, latching on to Gavi’s through ball and sending in a neat finish before Torres headed the striker’s looping pass outside the box to tap home himself.
It added the final touch of polish to a dominant performance that takes Barca closer to silverware.
