Oof, well struck from Pedri from the edge of the box but he strikes it wide.

Lovely, quick move from Barca for the first time.

Ousmane Dembele feeds Pedri but the youngster cannot get the shot away for lays it off for skipper Sergio Busquets, but the low shot from 25 yards out is gathered by Edgar Badia.

Half an hour gone, Barca yet to work the Elche goalkeeper.

Been a turgid showing from Ronald Koeman's men so far.

Barca win a corner which the hosts clear but it drops to the edge of the area for Jordi Alba to strike wide with a first-time effort.

Ousmane Dembele pulling out his box of tricks and almost wriggles through, but his run is halted on the edge of the area.

Ooh, Elche almost take a surprise lead.

Johan Mojica clips a ball into the box, Raul Guti ghosts in between two defenders but flicks his header of the bar.

Barca starting to exert some pressure but off balance, Martin Braithwaite shoots over from the angle.

French connection.

Ousmane Dembele's free-kick is met by Antoine Griezmann on the penalty spot, but the header is straight at Edgar Badia.

Subdued opening, Barca finding it difficult to make inroads on Elche's five at the back.

He should score!

Ousmane Dembele whips in a corner to the near post, Ronald Araujo stoops to head it wide.

The Barca man was unmarked but just took his eye off it.

Nothing much to speak about in terms of goalmouth action in the first few minutes.

Elche have failed to score in each of their last 10 matches against Barcelona in all competitions.

Their competitive goal drought v Barca stands at 983 minutes, since Marcelo Trobbiani netted in the seventh minute of a 5-1 La Liga away defeat on 23 April 1978.

Away we go.

Image source, .

The two sides immediately above Barca - Sevilla and Real Madrid - both won on Saturday.

Leaders Atletico host Valencia tonight so Ronald Koeman's side can't really afford a slip-up today.

Image source, Barcelona

Martin Braithwaite leads the line for Barcelona in the absence of Lionel Messi.

Image source, Elche

Former Liverpool defender Antonio Barragan starts at the back for Elche.

Image source, Getty Images

Barcelona star man Lionel Messi serves the second of his two-game ban after his first red for the club on Monday.

How will his side - off the pace in the title race - get on without him?