Barcelona rebounded from their recent loss to Real Sociedad with a crucial victory over Slavia Prague, securing a 4-2 win in the Czech Republic thanks to goals from Fermin Lopez (two), Dani Olmo, and Robert Lewandowski.
According to Diario AS, head coach Hansi Flick shared his thoughts on the match, commending Slavia while asserting that his team merited the win.
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“After conceding two goals from set pieces, we fought back and performed well. It wasn’t an easy game due to the cold, and Slavia executed their transitions and dangerous passes effectively. They played a very physical match. We showed significant improvement in the second half. We anticipated a challenging game as they had five weeks to prepare. Slavia was physical, dynamic, and had strong players. We noticed this during set pieces, which were tough to defend. However, we earned the three points.”
Flick also praised Fermin Lopez, who continued his impressive form by scoring a brace in the first half.
“He’s an exceptional player. The decision to stay was his, and I’m delighted he chose to remain. He embodies the spirit and DNA of Barcelona. I truly appreciated his performance today.”
Image via Gabriel Kuchta/Getty Images
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Flick: “I’m not sure about Pedri’s injury”
In addition to the victory, the match was notable for an injury to Pedri, who left the field clutching his hamstring. When questioned about the injury, Flick admitted he was uncertain of its severity.
“I don’t know the specifics of his condition or how long he may be sidelined. This isn’t good news. We’ll reassess tomorrow. Olmo came off the bench and scored, making the substitution a success, and the timing of the fourth goal was just right. That’s very encouraging.”