(Reuters/NAN)
Youngster Nico Gonzalez came off the bench to score an 85th-minute winner as Barcelona beat Elche 3-2 at Camp Nou on Saturday having previously surrendered a two-goal lead.
Ferran Jutgla and Gavi’s first-ever FC Barcelona goals gave Xavi Hernandez’s side a two-goal cushion inside the first 20 minutes but Elche fought back after the break.
Two goals in two minutes from substitutes Tete Morente and Pere Milla drew the away side level with 25 minutes to play before Nico scored for the second game running.
The win moves FC Barcelona back up to seventh in the table, three points off a Champions League spot ahead of Atletico Madrid’s game at Sevilla later on Saturday. Elche remain 16th.
FC Barcelona went into the game without a win in three matches in all competitions and with the majority of their attack injured.
Ansu Fati, Memphis Depay, Pedri and Martin Braithwaite remain sidelined, while Sergio Aguero confirmed his retirement from football due to a heart condition earlier this week.
That means a first start for Jutgla, a summer signing from Espanyol for the B team.
He had already had an early strike ruled out for offside when he flicked home Ousmane Dembele’s corner to open the scoring.
Almost immediately, FC Barcelona added a second. A brilliant touch and turn opened up space for Gavi, who drove into the Elche box before shooting low into the bottom corner.
It was the 17-year-old’s first goal for the club.
FC Barcelona spent the rest of the first half in cruise control, with Abde Ezzalzouli, Jutrgla and Gavi all missing chances to make it three, although Elche defender Enzo Roco should have pulled one back when he was left unmarked at a free-kick.
The visitors were not so wasteful when chances came their way in the second half, with two goals in two minutes turning the game on its head.
Lucas Boye did well to keep the ball from going out of play and Morente took full advantage of the space left by FC Barcelona’s defence, taking on Clement Lenglet and firing past Marc-Andre ter Stegen in the 62nd minute.
A minute later, Milla completed the comeback. He was left unmarked at the far post to bundle a header over the line after Ronald Araujo had given possession away for FC Barcelona.
Xavi brought Nico on for Jutgla and Riqui Puig for Frenkie de Jong as FC Barcelona pushed for the winner.
It eventually arrived when the impressive Gavi linked with Dembele before teeing up Nico, who sealed FC Barcelona’s first win since Nov. 27.