Gerard Pique's goal 10 minutes before half time has given Barcelona a 1-0 lead over Elche at the interval of their La Liga encounter.

Barcelona's usual neat passing was disrupted by a dogged Elche side in the first 20 minutes, but Lionel Messi fired a free kick inches wide of the top corner as Barcelona slowly got up to speed.

Elche threatened on the break and Claudio Bravo kicked away Faycal Fajr's low strike with his feet before denying the midfielder again a few minutes later.

The best chance of the half fell the way of Neymar, but the Brazilian skewed Messi's precise cross wide of the far post.

A few moments later, the visitors went ahead as Pique collected Xavi's quickly-taken free kick and fired his side in front.

Mario Pasalic almost gave Elche the perfect response, but his shot was easily saved by Bravo five minutes before the break.