Defending champions Barcelona defeated Elche 3-1 in the 11th round of the 2025/26 La Liga season, thanks to goals from Yamal, Ferran Torres, and Rashford. In an interview, Flick stated that his team still has room for improvement in various areas, and hopes to improve their ball control.

In the 9th minute, Balde intercepted the ball and passed it diagonally into the penalty area. Yamal received the pass, dribbled past the defender, and fired a shot into the net, giving Barcelona a 1-0 lead. In the 12th minute, Fermín regained possession and crossed the ball from the penalty area. Ferran Torres slotted it home, extending Barcelona's lead over Elche to 2-0.

In the 42nd minute, Rafa Mir scored with a low shot from the penalty area, pulling one back for Elche to make it 1-2. In the 61st minute of the second half, Fermín crossed from the right wing, and Rashford received the ball and scored with a diving shot, extending Barcelona's lead to 3-1.

Barcelona ultimately defeated Elche 3-1 at home. Barcelona currently sits in second place in the standings with 25 points, five points behind leaders Real Madrid.

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said, "We performed well in some aspects, but we still need to improve and continue to fight. Our opponents wanted to control the ball, which wasn't easy. We had to press them, and we did, which is why we were able to score the first two goals and create more chances."

“We can still control the ball even without Pedri. Pedri is an excellent player, and of course we want him to be on the field every game, but we have to find a way to cope without him. There are many areas where we can improve, and we will.”

Flick pointed out, "We had a lot of players who were unavailable for the previous few games, and we lacked some ability. The last two practices were very good, among the best practices of the season. We have to talk about ball control; we're not good enough in that area. The most important thing is the three-pointer. We've taken a step forward, and we must stay positive."

Furthermore, when discussing Fermín, who contributed two assists in this match, Flick said, "He did a lot of very good things, but like the team, he's not 100% in form, and there are some areas where he needs to improve. However, in recent matches, he has always been involved in creating chances and scoring goals."