Postpublished at 37 mins
Elche 0-0 Barcelona
Pere Milla twists and turns to create space for a shot on the edge of the box, but he's leaning back and can't trouble Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Barcelona start day fourth in La Liga
Barca needed late winner to earn 3-2 victory in thriller in December
Harry Poole
Elche 0-0 Barcelona
Pere Milla twists and turns to create space for a shot on the edge of the box, but he's leaning back and can't trouble Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Elche 0-0 Barcelona
Corner to Barcelona, but Elche get it clear. 10 minutes to go until half-time.
Elche 0-0 Barcelona
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang tries to play Gavi through on goal but his pass is cut out, and Gavi needlessly gives away a free-kick as he tries to win the ball back.
Elche 0-0 Barcelona
Ronald Araujo follows through with a sliding challenge on Johan Mojica and the home crowd aren't happy with it, but replays show it's a strong, clean tackle.
Elche 0-0 Barcelona
In his last La Liga game against Athletic, Dembele was involved in three goals in the same match for the first time as a Barcelona player, also providing two assists in a single game for the club for the first time. He's in the mood again today.
Elche 0-0 Barcelona
How has that not ended up in the back of the net?!
It's Ousmane Dembele once again causing trouble for Elche as he gets in behind the defence.
Edgar Badia stands tall to save Dembele's chipped attempt, and Frenkie de Jong can't beat the defender on the line with the rebound. Best chance of the match so far.
Elche 0-0 Barcelona
Ousmane Dembele is certainly Barcelona's go-to man so far.
He's running Johan Mojica ragged. The Elche left-back is not enjoying his first half.
Elche 0-0 Barcelona
Great work by Ousmane Dembele on the right to beat Johan Mojica and deliver a dangerous cross.
The ball is only cleared as far as Jordi Alba on the edge of the box, the left-back takes aim but Edgar Badia catches his on-target attempt.
Elche 0-0 Barcelona
Elche are knocking the ball around nicely as we pass the 20-minute mark in the first half. No shots on target yet.
Elche 0-0 Barcelona
Gavi is bundled to the ground by Antonio Barragan but rather than send the ball into the box, Barcelona play it short and Elche force the visitors back.
Elche 0-0 Barcelona
Ousmane Dembele gives away possession and Elche break.
Pere Milla tries to cut inside from the left but Ronald Araujo comes sliding in to send the ball out for a corner - which the Barcelona defender then heads clear.
Elche 0-0 Barcelona
Really good defending by Enzo Roco to follow the run of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and get enough of a touch on Ousmane Dembele's pass into the box to put the Barcelona forward off.
Elche 0-0 Barcelona
A good spell of possession for Barcelona, and it results in their first attempt of the contest.
Ousmane Dembele shifts the ball onto his left foot but his strike flies harmlessly over the crossbar.
Elche 0-0 Barcelona
Barcelona are unbeaten in 10 matches in La Liga (W6 D4), their longest run without defeat in the competition since April 2021, when they managed 19.
It's the second longest current run in the competition, after Sevilla who are on a 12-game streak.
Elche 0-0 Barcelona
That's not far away!
Raul Guti sends a fizzing shot just wide of the far post from the edge of the penalty area. Elche are just letting Barcelona know they're up for this in the past few minutes.
Elche 0-0 Barcelona
Elche try and create something of their own but Barcelona clear and the hosts must start again.
Johan Mojica picks it up on the left and attempts to catch out Marc-Andre ter Stegen from at least 25 yards, but it doesn't quite come off.
Elche 0-0 Barcelona
Here comes Pedri as Barcelona force Elche to retreat once more.
He finds Aubameyang in the box, but the former Arsenal man can't pick out a team-mate in the middle.
Bright start by the visitors. They're looking dangerous.
Elche 0-0 Barcelona
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang stretches his legs, throwing a couple of step-overs into the mix for good measure as he carries the ball upfield.
He passes out wide and makes a run into the box, but Ousmane Dembele's cross goes out of play.
Elche 0-0 Barcelona
Away we go!
Elche v Barcelona (15:15 GMT)
Lovely looking stadium, the Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero.
The home fans are in fine voice as the players walk out onto the field.
We'll be under way shortly.