Barcelona bounce back from El Clasico setback with victory over Elche

Barcelona returned to winning ways in LaLiga with a 3-1 win over Elche.

Looking to bounce back from last weekend’s El Clasico defeat to Real Madrid, Barca struck in quick succession when Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres scored within two minutes of each other.

Rafa Mir pulled one back for Elche after the break, but Marcus Rashford made the game safe in the 61st minute to move Barca five points behind leaders Real Madrid.

Miguel Roman’s extra-time winner helped Celta Vigo secure back-to-back league victories after beating 10-man Levante 2-1, but Espanyol missed the chance to close in on the top four after being beaten 2-1 by Alaves.

Goals from Denis Suarez and Lucas Boye set Alaves on course for victory before Roberto Fernandez pulled one back and the hosts held on after Boye was shown a second yellow in stoppage-time.

Martin Frese’s stoppage-time own goal ensured Inter Milan recorded back-to-back Serie A wins with a 2-1 victory over Verona.

Inter took the lead 16 minutes in with a stunning strike from Piotr Zielinski, who smashed a first-time volley from the edge of the box into the top corner from Hakan Calhanoglu’s floated corner.

Giovane levelled for Verona on the stroke of half-time and the game looked destined for a draw until Frese’s own goal snatched three points for Inter.

AC Milan are one place behind rivals Inter in the Serie A standings after edging to a 1-0 win over Roma.

Strahinja Pavlovic’s 39th-minute effort was the difference for Milan to remain in the mix at the top of the table and they are level with both Inter and Roma on 21 points.

Torino and Pisa shared the spoils with a 2-2 draw, while Fiorentina’s search for a first league win of the season continued after they were beaten 1-0 by Lecce, with Medon Berisha’s goal the difference.

Santiago Castro scored a brace as Bologna moved into fifth with a 3-1 win over Parma, who were reduced to 10 in the 35th minute when Christian Ordonez picked up a second yellow.

Cologne earned a 4-1 win over nine-man Hamburg in a bad-tempered Bundesliga clash.

Ragnar Ache and Florian Kainz sent Cologne ahead before Jean-Luc Dompe pulled one back, but Hamburg were suddenly reduced to nine when Immanuel Pherai and Fabio Vieira were both shown second yellow cards within four minutes of each other.

Cologne then completed their fourth league win of the campaign when Said El Mala and Jakub Kaminski scored in quick succession in stoppage-time.

Wouter Burger’s brace helped Hoffenheim earn a third straight Bundesliga win after being Wolfsburg 3-2.

In Ligue 1, Lens moved level on points with Marseille after beating Lorient 3-0, while Felix Correia’s strike proved to be the difference for Lille to earn a 1-0 win over Angers.

Esteban Lepaul scored a hat-trick for Rennes to earn their first win in seven games after beating Strasbourg 4-1 and relegation candidates Metz earned a 2-0 victory over fellow strugglers Nantes, while Toulouse and Le Havre’s meeting finished goalless.

Brest and Lyon also shared the spoils with a 0-0 draw which saw Hans Hateboer sent off just seven minutes in.