Barcelona continue revival with hard-fought win over Elche

Xavi Hernandez's team register 2-1 victory after falling behind on Sunday

Soccer Football - LaLiga - Elche v Barcelona - Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero, Elche, Spain - March 6, 2022 FC Barcelona's Memphis Depay celebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS / Pablo Morano

Barcelona's forward Memphis Depay, right, celebrates scoring his team's second goal with Dani Alves during the match against Elche. AFP

Memphis Depay scores against Elche at the Martinez Valero Stadium on Sunday. EPA

Barcelona's Ferran Torres, right, scores his side's first goal against Elche. AP

Ferran Torres of Barcelona duels for the ball with Omar Mascarell of Elche. Getty

Barcelona's head coach Xavi Hernandez at the Martinez Valero Stadium in Elche. EPA

Fidel Chaves of Elche celebrates after scoring on Sunday. Getty

Barcelona fought back from a goal down to earn an entertaining 2-1 win against Elche on Sunday.

A late penalty from Memphis Depay saw Barca continue their revival after a rough start to the season.

The Catalans had fallen as low as ninth back in November, following which former coach Ronald Koeman was fired. However new manager Xavi Hernandez seems to have re-energised the Spanish giants, who are in top-four contention.

Mid-table Elche opened the scoring right before halftime when Pedri tried to clear the ball but gifted a perfect assist to Fidel Chavez, who scored with an angled shot just inside the right post.

Barca then came storming back with two smart substitutes.

Ferran Torres diverted in from close range on the hour before Depay scored an 84th-minute penalty after the striker had drawn Elche's Antonio Barragan into a handball.

It also continues an impressive run of form for Xavi's side, who have not lost in the league since December and came into this game having scored four times in three consecutive games for the first time since 2017.

Barcelona had the better of the chances in the first half, the best of them coming to Frenkie de Jong, who failed to beat Edgar Badia.

Then Ousmane Dembele sprinted clear and his lifted shot was parried out to De Jong, whose follow-up was cleared off the line by Diego Gonzalez.

Elche then landed a surprise blow before half-time as Barca failed to deal with a straightforward goal kick. Amid the confusion, Pedri poked the ball past his own defence and through to Fidel, who took a touch and fired into the far corner.

Barcelona equalised on the hour as they worked the ball from left to right. Dembele drove to the line and sent in a cross. Jordi Alba was unable to intercept cleanly but Torres was in position to steer in.

Elche started to tire with Barca pushing for a winner. In the 82nd minute they got their chance as Depay wriggled around Barragan, the ball popped up and Barragan instinctively lifted his arm to meet it.

The referee consulted the replay, pointed to the spot and Depay swept the penalty into the top corner.

There was more late drama to come as Alba and Sergio Busquets both saw penalty claims for handballs waved away before Guido Carrillo headed towards the corner in the 94th minute. Marc-Andre ter Stegen dived and Barca held on for victory.

"Handballs inside the box can always be discussed," Ter Stegen told reporters.

"Players can't take their arms off their bodies inside the area. I think the referee made the right decisions."