Slavia Prague 2-4 Barcelona: Catalan comeback leaves them within 'striking distance' of the TOP 8

FC Barcelona reached 13 points in the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 thanks to a thrashing, including a comeback, against Slavia Prague in the Czech Republic. The Catalans started losing very early, but managed to come back in the second half to improve their chances of advancing to the round of 16 without playing the playoff.

The home team took the lead with a goal from **Vasil Kusej** in the 10th minute. Barça struggled to find their rhythm in the icy Eden Arena against a very organized and committed pressing opponent. The equalizer didn't come until the 34th minute, courtesy of **Fermín López**.

The Huelva native equalized with another spectacular goal in the 42nd minute, but Robert Lewandowski, with an own goal, left the score tied before halftime in a very inconsistent first half for Barça. Especially in defense, with very costly lapses on set pieces.

In the second half, despite Pedri González's injury, goals from Dani Olmo and Lewandowski sealed the comeback, allowing the Catalans to climb to ninth place in the standings with 13 points and a +5 goal difference, a key factor in determining who will advance directly to the Champions League round of 16

Slavia caught Barça off guard with a spectacular goal

With sub-zero temperatures, Barça took to the Eden Arena in Prague with several changes to their lineup compared to the last league match against Real Sociedad. Hansi Flick brought back **Raphinha** and fielded **Roony Bardghji** in place of the suspended Lamine Yamal.

**Robert Lewandowski**, meanwhile, reappeared as the '9' in place of Ferran Torres, who was out due to injury**Gerard Martín**, for his part, replaced Pau Cubarsí in defense. Barça had the first clear chance of the match in the 6th minute, with a cross from Rapha for Fermín, which the Spanish midfielder headed high, after controlling it with his chest.

The possession was Barça's, but Slavia managed to approach the rival's area with a surprising and very effective high press. In the 10th minute, a corner from the right allowed captain Tomas Holes to anticipate at the near post and flick the ball to the far post, which Vasil Kusej converted for a partial 1-0 lead.

The forward anticipated **Frenkie de Jong** and, despite stumbling just on the goal line, pushed the ball into the net against a **Joan García** surprised by the spectacular arrival of the '9'. The goal was a blow for a Barça team unsettled by Slavia's pressure and less precise than usual in their passing

Fermín scored a comeback, but Barça's defense continued to falter

Fermín López, always timely: brace to rescue Barça in Prague

Just past the 25th minute, the Catalan team managed to shake off the rival pressure and establish themselves in the opponent's half. **Eric García** signaled danger with a powerful long-range shot that goalkeeper Stanek sent to the corner with a great save. Finally, in the 34th minute, Slavia's resistance broke after a good collective play by Barça

A pass from Raphinha released Frenkie at the edge of the box. The Dutchman spotted Fermín's run and threaded a perfect pass that left the Huelva native well-positioned to finish past Stanek with a thunderous shot. The Barça team struggled to get going, but managed to equalize after just over 20 minutes trailing.

Fermín himself, in the 42nd minute, scored his second goal of the match with a superb strike from the edge of the box, taking advantage of the passive marking by a Slavia defense that was too deep in their own area. The joy, however, was short-lived, as another corner from the right, in the 44th minute, allowed the Czechs to score the 2-2 before halftime.

Another lapse in marking allowed Holes to flick it on at the near post and, this time, the ball deflected off Robert Lewandowski's shoulder to end up in the back of the Barça goal. Slavia hadn't scored since the first matchday of the group stage and, in just 45 minutes, they managed to beat Joan García twice

Dani Olmo's stunner brought calm back to Barça

After the break, Barça went all out for the win. **Pedri** tested Stanek before the first minute was up, with a powerful shot whose rebound almost resulted in another own goal, this time by Provod.

Frenkie de Jong, in the 49th minute, scored after two rebounds from goalkeeper Stanek off shots from Fermín, from the edge of the box, and Lewandowski, taking advantage of the first rebound, but the Pole, according to the semi-automatic VAR, was slightly offside (the line of his left shoulder) at the start of the play

The match turned into a monologue from Barcelona, who had absolute control of possession and were able to reach the opponent's area with ease, taking advantage of their quick transitions. Despite being clearly outplayed, Slavia managed to pose a threat to Joan García's goal from time to time.

In the 61st minute, Flick brought on **Dani Olmo and Rashford**. Initially, Roony and Gerard Martín seemed to be the ones to be substituted, but **Pedri asked to be taken off due to a twinge in his right thigh**. Fortunately, with the first chance he had, Dani scored a screamer from the edge of the box with a rocket into the top corner, restoring calm to Barça at a very complex moment of the night.

Lewandowski sealed the match in the 70'

Eight minutes after Olmo's great goal, Lewandowski sealed the match, scoring with a bit of luck from a cross from the left by Rashford. The Pole, on his first attempt, failed to execute, but had enough time and ability to adjust and tap the ball past goalkeeper Stanek.

For the '9', it was his first goal in the 25/26 Champions League and his 11th of the season. Towards the end, Frenkie was booked and will miss the match against Copenhagen, where Barcelona needs to win by a wide margin to enter the TOP-8 which grants direct access to the round of 16. All matches of matchday 8 will be played on Wednesday, January 28th at the same time (9:00 PM CEST)

Match Report: Slavia Prague 2-4 FC Barcelona

• Slavia Prague, 2: Stanek; Holes (Doudera, 46'), Chaloupec, Zima, Moses (Vlcek, 46'); Oscar, Sadílek, Provod, Sanyang; Kusej (Chytil, 80') and Chory (Schranz, 65').
• FC Barcelona, 4: Joan Garcia; Koundé, Eric Garcia, Gerard Martín, Balde (Araujo, 79'); Pedri (Olmo, 61'), De Jong; Roony Bardghji (Rashford, 61'), Fermín (Bernal, 79'), Raphinha; Lewandowski.
• Goals: 1-0, Vasil Kusej (10'); 1-1, Fermín López (34'); 1-2, Fermín López (42'); 2-2, Robert Lewandowski (44', own goal); 2-3, Dani Olmo (63'); 2-4, Robert Lewandowski (71')
• Referee: Chris Kavanagh (England). He disallowed a goal by Frenkie de Jong in the 49th minute after a semi-automatic VAR review. He cautioned Frenkie de Jong for Barça.
• Stadium: Eden Arena in Prague.
• Incidents: Match corresponding to matchday 7 of the UEFA Champions League 2025/26.