Elche CF vs FC Barcelona

Barcelona's pursuit of a third straight La Liga title finally kicks off on August 23, away to Elche at the Martinez Valero. The delayed start is a quirk of the calendar, both Barcelona and Real Madrid were given extra rest after their World Cup runs, but it drops the champions straight into an awkward atmosphere against a side desperate to prove it belongs in the top flight again. Lamine Yamal and Pedri are back in training after Spain's World Cup triumph, while the squad is still adjusting to Robert Lewandowski's departure and Ferran Torres's expected move to PSG. Elche, freshly promoted and missing last season's top scorers, are already being tipped by analysts as one of the leading relegation candidates. History gives the hosts little comfort either, Barcelona have won eleven straight meetings between the two clubs and have not lost to Elche since 1974. Our prediction: 1-3