Barcelona overcame the absence of a suspended Lionel Messi to earn a 2-0 win away to struggling Elche in 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 sprinted to get the final touch.

The Catalans found the second when substitute Puig headed in, in the 89th minute, to score his first La Liga goal.

Eden Hazard scored after almost three months and Karim Benzema bagged a brace as Real Madrid eased to a 4-1 win away to Alaves.