Fermin Lopez paves the way for Barca towards El Clasico

23/10/2025 15:39:00 TrophyTracker

Barca managed to handle a very weak Olympiacos with limited quality chances but a high number of goals (6-1 win), largely due to Fermin Lopez’s impact and the advantage in player numbers.

In the week leading up to the Clasico, winning acts as an important psychological remedy for Barca. To prepare for El Clasico, Hansi Flick needs greater effectiveness than what Fermin Lopez has demonstrated.

Restricted style of play

Freedom and creativity are standout qualities in modern football. They act as catalysts, meaning sharpness, spontaneity, and sometimes even genius. These traits highlight major victories and, most importantly, rescue matches stuck in deadlock. This is exactly what Fermin Lopez did against Olympiacos, leading a less remarkable Barcelona to a convincing 6-1 win.

Hansi Flick was fortunate that Fermin Lopez’s passion kept him loyal to Barca despite attractive offers during the summer transfer window. His unwavering confidence combined with Marcus Rashford, who is increasingly enjoying his time in the azulgrana (blue and red) jersey, and with Pedri’s orchestration, scored in Europe without needing to rely on Raphinha, Lewandowski, Ferran Torres, or the best version of Lamine Yamal.

However, the result cannot hide that the match was quite dark for most of the time. Flick’s team displayed an unconvincing style. In this context, the goals acted as “time-wasters” for Barcelona, helping them better prepare for the next game at Bernabeu against Real Madrid. The saying “actions speak louder than words” was proven true at Montjuic.

Barca’s play did not improve much against Olympiacos compared to the match against Girona – a victory decided in stoppage time thanks to Ronald Araujo. The main differences lay in the opponent (much weaker) and the referee – Urs Schnyder (Switzerland) was more lenient than Jesus Gil Manzano – rather than in Flick’s team version. Barca only emerged from darkness in the last 30 minutes of the second half, stirring the game when the opponent was down to 10 men.

Fermin delivered his best performance in the Barca jersey

Fermin’s solution

The feeling in the Champions League is not much better than in La Liga. Barca has become a fragile team, lacking confidence in themselves, as if they have lost their memory and rhythm, far from the team that won La Liga and the Copa del Rey. Barca’s starting lineup, heavily impacted by numerous injuries, is under more scrutiny than ever. The central defense pairing is constantly shuffled, fullbacks are not at their best form, while wingers no longer press as intensely as usual in Flick’s tactics.

Therefore, against Olympiacos, Flick positioned Fermin Lopez near the left wing to sweep the attacking front and press two or three opposing defenders. Fermin engaged in defense starting from the opponent’s half – something not seen from Rashford (playing striker) and Lamine Yamal.

Fermin remains the usual solution due to his decisive playing style regardless of Barca’s situation. Ball losses continue to trouble the "Blaugrana," especially when they feel pressured at home, as these mistakes give the opponent easy opportunities and block progress in the attacking half until a connection with Pedri is made. However, Olympiacos, though brave, were vulnerable, prone to errors, and not aggressive enough in exploiting spaces between Barca’s fullbacks and forwards.

Fermin’s opening goal in the 7th minute did not calm Barcelona’s players; they were too impatient and insecure, passing clumsily and even threatened by Olympiacos, who fielded a lineup similar to their 0-2 loss against Arsenal. Around 2,700 visiting fans were even more passionate than the Cules. Barca’s movement was poor until Flick found a solution from La Masia: Dro Fernandez dribbled well through the middle and Fermin scored.

Barca trembled when Olympiacos reduced the score early in the second half. The "Blaugrana" only stabilized after Hezze was sent off in the 57th minute. From then on, four more goals were scored. Rashford had a brace, Fermin became the first Spanish player to score a hat-trick for Barca in the Champions League era, and Yamal converted a penalty to celebrate becoming the youngest player to reach 25 matches in Europe’s top competition at 18 years and 100 days old.

Fermin secured Barca’s victory over Olympiacos, but Flick still has much work to do before El Clasico.

Ngoc Linh

Comment (0)