BARCELONA, Spain — Fermín López made his mark with a stellar hat trick, while Marcus Rashford added two goals, leading Barcelona to a resounding 6-1 victory over Olympiacos in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday. This impressive win not only boosts the Spanish champions’ morale ahead of their crucial Clásico showdown with LaLiga leaders Real Madrid on Sunday, but it also showcases their growing momentum under coach Hansi Flick.
Although the scoreline may seem lopsided, four of Barcelona’s goals came in the last 25 minutes after Olympiacos was reduced to 10 men. Nonetheless, Flick will focus on the positives as he aims to extend Barcelona’s winning streak against Madrid to five matches this weekend.
Fermín, who returned from a muscle injury to start, displayed exceptional finishing skills. His second and third goals were particularly impressive, and he nearly completed his hat trick earlier if not for a close call from a Lamine Yamal cross that went wide.
“I’m thrilled – we really needed a result like this,” Fermín stated to reporters. “The overall feeling after the game is fantastic, and now we can shift our focus to the Clásico. Plus, getting my first hat trick is a dream come true, especially with the match ball signed by all my teammates.”
Rashford, stepping up as the team’s No. 9 in the absence of Robert Lewandowski, found his stride, particularly with a stunning second goal struck from near the edge of the box. As the oldest outfield player at 27 in a youthful Barcelona side, he has now registered five goals and five assists in his first 12 appearances, leading the team in goal contributions this season.
“With more confidence and familiarity with his teammates, I believe he will continue to improve,” Flick remarked in the post-game press conference.
After consecutive defeats and a narrow win against Girona over the weekend, Barcelona needed a robust performance like this. Flick has openly acknowledged that the team hasn’t quite reached the levels that led to last season’s domestic treble, seeking increased intensity and effectiveness to address the vulnerabilities that opponents are exploiting.
Despite the triumph, the team’s performance was inconsistent. They initially allowed Olympiacos to threaten after Fermín opened the scoring, and the Greek side pulled a goal back from the penalty spot via Ayoub El Kaabi. They may feel unfortunate about the chain of events that altered the match’s dynamics; Santiago Hezze was sent off after receiving a second yellow card, and if VAR could review such bookings, he might have stayed on the pitch.
Shortly after the dismissal, any hopes for a comeback were dashed when goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis was penalized for fouling Rashford in the box during a swift exchange with Fermín. Yamal converted the penalty, extending Barcelona’s lead.
With a two-goal cushion and a one-man advantage, the floodgates opened. Rashford netted his first goal of the evening before Fermín sealed his hat trick with some impressive skill from substitute Roony Bardghji, followed by a fortunate pass.
“Fermín has a phenomenal impact; he tracks back, scores, and is a full package,” Flick praised. “His performance tonight was exceptional. The first goal was crucial, and his dynamic presence in front of goal is essential for us.”
Rashford capped off the night with a brilliant sixth goal from a fine pass by Pedri. He believed he should have been awarded a second penalty, but even with six goals, the scoreline felt unfair to Olympiacos, as a seventh would have been excessively harsh.
“Every victory adds to our confidence,” Flick added. “It’s critical for us to win, not just in terms of morale but also the number of goals we scored today.”
Looking ahead to the upcoming Clásico, Flick hopes to have Raphinha and Ferran Torres back from injury. A win in that matchup would propel Barcelona to the top of the table.
“I remain optimistic,” Flick commented in anticipation of the match at Santiago Bernabéu. “We have a competent team and potentially a few returning players. Today’s victory boosts our confidence, and we’ll take the time to recover and prepare.”