Elche took a marvel lead at the Martinez Valero while Fidel capitalised on a Pedri errors at the stroke of half-time however Barca got here storming returned way to substitutes. Ferran Torres diverted in from near variety on the hour before Depay scored an 84th-minute penalty after the striker had drawn Elche's Antonio Barragan into a handball.
Victory sends Barca factors above Real Betis and three clear of Atletico Madrid in the table, before Betis and Atletico face every different in a important war for the pinnacle 4 later on Sunday.
It also keeps an impressive run of shape for Xavi Hernandez's facet, who've no longer lost inside the league since December and got here into this sport on the again of scoring four times in 3 consecutive games for the first time due to the fact that 2017. When Xavi became appointed in November, Barcelona sat 9th but they could now justifiably have their points of interest set on Sevilla, who're only seven points beforehand in 2d.
Barcelona had the better of the chances in the first 1/2, the nice of them falling to Frenkie de Jong, who darted in behind however didn't beat Edgar Badia. Then Ousmane Dembele sprinted clean and his lifted shot was parried out to De Jong, whose comply with-up turned into cleared off the line with the aid of Diego Gonzalez.Elche then landed a sucker-punch a minute earlier than half of-time as Barca did not address a immediately-forward aim-kick downfield and amid the confusion, Pedri poked the ball again, past his own defence and thru to Fidel. Fidel took a hint and fired into the a long way corner.
Barcelona equalised at the hour as they worked the ball from left to proper, wherein Dembele drove to the line and hung up a pass. Jordi Alba became unable to trap the ball cleanly but Torres changed into perfectly placed to persuade in. Elche have been tiring, Barca pushing for a winner and in the 82nd minute they were given their threat 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 nook.
There changed into more past due drama to come back, as Alba and Sergio Busquets were both relieved to see penalty claims for handballs waved away earlier than Guido Carrillo headed closer to the corner in the 94th minute. Marc-Andre ter Stegen dived and Barca hung on.
