Successful dress rehearsal before the duel with their big rival: FC Barcelona clearly beat Olympiacos Piraeus 6-1 (2-0) in the Champions League and is ready for the “Clasico” at Real Madrid next Sunday. This is especially true for Fermin Lopez, who scored three goals.
In contrast to Barca’s most important game of the rest of the year in La Liga, Hansi Flick, who saw yellow-red in last weekend’s game against FC Girona (2-1) and is suspended, was allowed to sit on the bench against the Greeks. And he had a surprise in store, in the starting line-up was a name that only the very best connoisseurs of Spanish football would know: Dro Fernandez.
Because of the injury problems, Flick has had to improvise for a few weeks and so the 17-year-old, who has been playing in Barca’s youth team for three years, was given the opportunity to make his debut in the Champions League three months before he came of age. Dro had only played one half for the professionals before, that was in the league against Real Sociedad (2-1) at the end of September.
Yamal prepares Barcelona to take the lead in their record-breaking game
And the super talent played a decisive role in his team’s first big chance. When he passed to Alejandro Baldé, it was clear that his outstanding technique was his greatest strength. However, Baldé placed the subsequent cross a bit high, which is why Marcus Rashford was only able to finish with his knee and therefore uncontrollably, and the ball went over (5th).
Two minutes later, Dro and Co. were able to celebrate. Lamine Yamal asked to dance in the opposing penalty area, his colleague Lopez took the ball and pushed it into the net (7th). A special moment for the 22-year-old, who was playing for his place in the “Clasico”, but also for Yamal. At the age of 18 years and 100 days, he played his 25th game in the premier class and set a record.
Fermin Lopez makes it 1-0 after a historic assist from Lamine Yamal
Dro with his first goal involvement, more curious Premiere goal for Piraeus
Dro won’t be able to break this mark, but like his teenage colleague he managed to get on the scoresheet with an assist. After Pedri won the ball strongly, the Barca left winger passed the ball to Lopez, who outplayed an opponent and scored his second goal (39′). Although the Catalans didn’t shine, they obviously did enough to look ahead to the Real hit on Sunday with little worry at half-time.
At the beginning of the second half things got really strange and tight for a short time. Ayoub El Kaabi headed home, but the VAR intervened because it was offside – however, Eric Garcia had previously played the ball with his arm, so there was a penalty. And El Kaabi then converted it to make it 1-2 (54th), allowing him to celebrate his team’s first goal of this year’s Champions League season with a little delay.
Was the focus several times at the beginning of the second half: referee Urs Schnyder
Olympiakos falls apart after an unjustified sending off
But then referee Urs Schnyder made a mistake that dashed any hopes of winning a point. Santiago Hezze prevailed in a duel after which Barca’s Marc Casado theatrically went down – and the referee showed the Olympiakos midfielder yellow-red (57th). A blow that Casado had faked was not visible. The minority was still a fact.
Ten minutes later, Schnyder was back in the spotlight – and again he caused discord at Olympiakos. After Konstantinos Tzolakis committed an offense against Rashford, the referee decided on a penalty for Barca, according to the video images. Yamal took over and he confidently converted it to 3-1, easily loading Tzolakis (68th).
Three Barca goals in six minutes
Rashford finally made the decision just as easily. The new signing from Manchester United was given plenty of time in the penalty area and pushed the ball from a standing start into the near corner to make it 4-1 (74th). And shortly afterwards things got even more bitter for Olympiakos, Lopez made his day and scored his third goal with a remarkable volley (77th). Three minutes later, Rashford scored a brace (80′).
Fermin Lopez shows it: He scored three goals against Olympiacos.
The dress rehearsal for the “Clasico” turned into a goal party, which was also important after the previous Champions League defeat against Paris St. Germain (1:2). “We needed a win like this after the defeat against PSG. Scoring a hat-trick is a dream come true and I hope there are many more to come”said Lopez.
Barca are now back on target with six points, while Olympiakos finally scored, but still only have the embarrassing point from the home game against Pafos FC (0-0) after a 64-minute majority.