Good afternoon and welcome to Eurosport's LIVE coverage of the Spanish Liga clash between Elche and Barcelona. We'll bring you all the goals and action as it happens. Kick-off: 17:00.

For so long it looked like Cordoba would take points off Real Madrid in today's earlier kick-off, with Cristiano Ronaldo sent off, but Gareth Bale scored a late penalty kick to give Los Blancos the win.

It looks to me as though this Barcelona side is a little tired having played so many big games in a short space of time. Although Enrique should have mitigated that effect by making so many changes.

Barcelona don't look so certain about themselves at the back. Elche have plenty of pace on the counter attack, with Jonathas in particular causing the Catalans real problems in defence.

YELLOW CARD: Aaron Niguez

Elche carry threat on the break, with Jonathas breaking forward at pace. Fajr is played into the right hand channel, with the attacker firing a shot off at goal. But his effort is saved by Bravo.

Just for a moment I thought that Messi shot was about to find the back of the net. The Barcelona number 10 is in great form at the moment and looks lively tonight as well.

That wasn't far away at all! Messi whips a wicked freekick effort towards the target fom the edge of the penalty area, but his shot flashes past the near post with Tyton scrambling.

YELLOW CARD: Domingo Cisma (Elche)

The most noteable change is that Suarez has been dropped to the bench. He looked short of confidence in the last game against Atletico and was snatching at his opportunities.

Although one change has been enfored on Barcelona, with Rakitic picking up an injury this week. He has been replaced in the centre of midfield by Rafinha. Good replacement, to be fair.

Enrique kept with the same team for the past three games, but has made no less than six changes for this game, clearly with one eye on the second leg against Atletico Madrid next week.

There hasn't been much tempo to Barcelona's play in this opening 20 minutes or so. They have been in better form of late, but this hasn't been inspired play from the Catalans.

As things stand Elche are just a point above the relegation zone and they look like they are already holding out for a draw here. They are camped deep inside their own half.

Of course, Barcelona come into this game having faced Elche in the Copa Del Rey just a couple weeks ago, when they put nine goals past them over two legs. But this has been a tame 15 minutes.

Barcelona are not showing much urgency early on and continue to bide their time, passing the ball around on the edge of their own half.

An interesting move results in Alba slashing a wild volley just over the bar and that certainly had Tyton concerned in the Elche goal.

Now it's Mascherano who wins a free kick for Barcelona, tumbling over 25 yards out from the Elche goal. This could be dangerous...

Mascherano makes a cynical foul on Fajr, who wins a free-kick in the Barcelona half.

Alba is looking dangerous down the left and he combines well with Neymar before the Brazilian gives the ball away tamely.