Hello and welcome to LIVE coverage of Elche vs. Barcelona in La Liga. We get underway in 15 minutes.

Pedro is wearing his unhappy facial expression after his header whistles past the post.

Marc Bartra accustoms himself with the turf after taking a tumble.

Messi removes his chin from his sternum, spots a gap and hits a fizzing strike towards goal. Deflected behind.

Elche unleash their own version of tika-taka to get out of a tricky situation near their own corner flag.

Messi floats the set-piece into the mixer. Headed clear. Corner to Barca.

Messi goes down under pressure from Pelegrin. The Argentine rolls, tumbles, pirouettes and wins a free-kick. Booking for the Elche man.

Perez puts in a crunching challenge on Alexis Sanchez. The referee isn't interested.

Barcelona almost score from the resulting corner but Sanchez's effort lacks the required power or direction.

Messi past one man, shrugs off a second and unleashes a shot. Palmed clear by Manu.

MISS! Garry Rodrigues is unmarked at the back-post but can't divert his volley on target.

Was Pedro blocked in the box? Probably, but you can't give a penalty for that.

Whistles ring out as Barcelona enjoy a spell of possession. It's a bit too comfortable for the visitors at present.

Barca are creating enough half-chances in the early stages to suggest a comfortable victory.

SANCHEZ SAVED BY THE FLAG! The Chile international latches onto a clipped through ball. He must fire the visitors ahead... No, he's put it wide! Fortunately for him, the flag shot up. Blushes spared.

Don't be silly. Barca play it short and proceed to stroke the ball towards the penalty area. It breaks to Fabregas in the penalty area but the Spaniard is suffocated by a host of white shirts.

Now then. Barca force a throw right by the corner flag. Chance to fling it into the mixer?

The referee, clearly bored by the opening exchanges, awards Barcelona a free-kick on halfway for the tamest of infringements.

Alexis Sanchez pokes the ball through Sergio Pelegrin's legs but his brief victory is marred when he hauls the utility man to the floor.

Ruben Perez has a crack from distance. Wild and over the bar.

Iniesta has another chance to volley his side ahead but blasts narrowly wide. The visitors on top.

PING! Iniesta crashes a spectacular volley against the crossbar. Looks like Manu got a slight touch on that. Top save.