Frenkie de Jong leads Barcelona to victory over Elche in Messi's absence

Fourth consecutive La Liga win for Catalans

Barcelona's midfielder Riqui Puig, centre, celebrates his goal against Elche at the Martinez Valero Stadium on Sunday. AFP

Riqui Puig of Barcelona celebrates with team mate Antoine Griezmann after scoring. Getty

Riqui Puig celebrates with Antoine Griezmann, Martin Braithwaite and team mates after scoring. Getty

Elche's goalkeeper Edgar Badia at the Martinez Valero Stadium. EPA

Elche's goalkeeper Edgar Badia fails to save a shot by Barcelona's Riqui Puig. AP

Barcelona's midfielder Frenkie De Jong scores against Elche at the Martinez Valero Stadium. EPA

Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal. AP

Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong scores his side's opening goal. AP

Barcelona overcame the absence of a suspended Lionel Messi to earn a 2-0 win over struggling Elche in the La Liga on Sunday thanks to goals late in each half from midfielders Frenkie de Jong and Riqui Puig.

Barca went ahead in the 39th minute with what looked to be an own goal from Elche's Diego Gonzalez. But Dutchman De Jong, who had delivered the cross which caused Gonzalez to divert the ball towards goal, sprinted to get the final touch just before it crossed the line.

Elche winger Emiliano Rigoni missed a great chance to level in the second half after a glaring error from Barca defender Oscar Mingueza but was denied by a heroic save from Barca keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

The Catalans struggled to find a second to ease their nerves until substitute Puig headed in a cross from De Jong in the 89th minute to score his first La Liga goal and clinch a fourth consecutive win for Barca.

De Jong, in his best form since joining the club two years ago from Ajax Amsterdam, thrust past two defenders to race towards the byline but still managed to keep his composure and deliver a perfect cross for the diminutive Puig to head home.

Ronald Koeman's side are third in the table on 37 points, seven behind leaders Atletico Madrid who have two games in hand. Elche remain 19th on 17 points, two from the safety zone.

"We have been playing a bit better since the year began, we've won all our games which shows we have improved," said De Jong, who has scored three times and provided two assists in his last six matches in all competitions.

"We had to press them hard because they wanted to play the ball out from the back and if you don't press properly as a team it can get difficult. This was not an easy game but we worked hard and are very happy to have won it."