Barcelona is in a tight race for the top spot in La Liga against Real Madrid, showing signs of regaining their former strength with four consecutive wins across all competitions.
On Saturday night, Barcelona dominated Elche, winning 3-1 in a match led by coach Hansi Flick.
Interestingly, Barcelona had the potential to win by a much larger margin, as they were in control throughout the game. Lamine Yamal stood out with eight key passes, bolstering his case for the Ballon d’Or, while Frenkie de Jong also contributed with five key passes in a strong midfield display.
Despite their control, Ferran Torres, wearing the No. 9 jersey, only managed to score once from eight attempts. He hit the goal post twice and missed multiple scoring chances, making his one goal seem underwhelming.
This pattern has emerged throughout the season for Torres. He has had ample opportunities to take over the striker position from Robert Lewandowski, yet his performances highlight Barcelona’s need for an efficient forward, with names like Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez often mentioned as ideal replacements.
Although Torres has found the net 12 times in 20 La Liga matches this season, this isn’t optimal given the number of chances he receives while playing alongside top talents like Yamal and Raphinha on the wings, as well as De Jong and Pedri in midfield.
Supporters of Barcelona recognize that they require a sharper striker. Torres, originally a winger at Valencia, has not shown the instincts needed to succeed in that central role.
Fans are aware that Torres is not the answer for their striker needs, and his inability to finish off chances can lead to dropped points, especially against stronger teams where the margin for error is considerably smaller.