Barcelona have the chance to head into the international break as La Liga leaders

“We have to win tomorrow and we will have to wait for the other results, especially in a Madrid derby,” said an optimistic Xavi ahead of Barcelona’s home game against a struggling Elche side when asked about the possibility of taking the lead for the first time in La Liga 2022-23.

Despite coming on the back of a diat the hands of 0-2 defeat at hands of Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League, confidence is at its peak in Barcelona. This because the team has won each of their last four league games, scoring at least three goals in each one of them.

The opening day 0-0 draw against Rayo Vallecano did leave the Barcelona players as well as the fans equally hurt mostly because it was the opening game of the season. That, fortunately, did not set the tone for the matches to follow.

In fact, despite facing Real Sociedad and Sevilla early in the campaign, the Blaugrana have kept three clean sheets in their last three games. This means Barcelona are one of the two teams this season, along with Villarreal, who have let in a solitary goal in the first five games.

Now, Elche could well and truly be a tricky opponent given the fact that they will be defensive since the first whistle. But Barcelona have proved they can exploit the pockets of spaces to mere perfection.

Furthermore, with only two points separating the Catalans from league leaders Real Madrid, the home game against a struggling Elche team, that is yet to win a game this season, gives them a perfect opportunity to take the lead in the league.

Of course, a lot depends on other results as well, but bear in mind that Real Madrid are playing Atletico Madrid away from home, a venue where they haven’t won in each of their last three league outings (L1, D2).

Barcelona did go on top of La Liga the previous weekend when they beat Cadiz 0-4 away from home. Sadly, Madrid beat RCD Mallorca 4-1 less than 24 hours later, and regained their advantage.

The last time Barcelona were on top of the Spanish league was during 2020/21. Lionel Messi’s first-half goal against Granada helped them climb over Atletico Madrid – for 40 minutes.

As far as Elche are concerned, the team has not beaten Barcelona in nearly 50 years. Indeed the records of the past do not matter much in football, but it’s imperative to bear in mind that Elche’s defence has largely struggled, conceding 13 goals so far, while Barcelona’s attack has been vicious, to say the very least.

Judging by the looks of things, it’s hard to see history being altered in any way, and if everything goes as planned, Barcelona will head into the international break as the La Liga leaders.