Elche, 23 August 2026

The Spanish first-division side Elche fell 0:5 in the pre-season friendly against FC Barcelona, with goalkeeper David Affengruber standing between the posts.

Even before kick-off it was clear that the match would be a tough test for Elche against a top European club. FC Barcelona, looking to find their competitive rhythm in the coming weeks, played with high intensity and took control of the game early on.

The direction of the match became apparent in the opening minutes. Barcelona repeatedly combined their way dangerously close to the Elche penalty area and put the hosts' defence under pressure. Affengruber, guarding the space between the posts, faced a large number of shots from various positions.

Match flow and Barcelona's early dominance

Over the course of the first half, Barcelona consistently made use of their territorial advantage. The team created several clear scoring opportunities and finished them with increasing precision. Elche, by contrast, rarely found a way into the opposing half and was barely able to make any offensive impact.