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

Barça managed to come back in a difficult match against Slavia Prague thanks to two goals from Fermín López. The Huelva native has now scored 10 goals in 25/26, 5 in the Champions League

Fermín López continues his fine form with FC Barcelona in the 2025/26 season. Against Slavia Prague, the Huelva native remained the team’s starting attacking midfielder and, with two first-half goals, spearheaded Barça’s comeback on a freezing night in Czechia.

Hansi Flick’s side started the match trailing after a goal by Vasil Kusej in the 10th minute. However, after a very sluggish first half-hour for the Blaugrana, a well-worked team move led to a through ball from Frenkie de Jong that Fermín capitalized on to level the score.

Barça’s comeback left unrewarded before the break

The number ’16’ made a run down the right and beat goalkeeper Stanek with a powerful strike to the near post. Later, in the 42nd minute, the player from El Campillo completed the comeback with a superb goal from outside the box, receiving from Pedri before shifting onto his left foot amidst the passivity of a Slavia defense sitting deep near their area.

Barça had already done the hardest part: coming back against a very defensive opponent on a difficult pitch. However, another corner from the right caught the defense out of position, and Robert Lewandowski deflected a header from the near post to settle the score at 2-2 before halftime.

Fermín López reaches 10 goals in 25/26

With his brace in Prague, Fermín López now has 10 goals this season, five of them in the Champions League. The Huelva native had already scored a hat-trick against Olympiacos (6-1) and has already produced 20 goal contributions in 25/26, as he also boasts 10 assists for Barcelona.

The Huelva native has won the direct duel against Dani Olmo for the attacking midfield spot and continues to repay Flick’s trust as a regular starter. Indeed, he has only been a substitute in 6 of the 24 matches he has played so far. At the end of the match, UEFA named him the MVP of the game.

In that regard, the 22-year-old valued the team’s reaction to secure a key victory, as well as the coaching staff’s confidence in keeping him in the Blaugrana lineup.

“I try to make the most of the boss’s opportunities and help the team. We did a great job and we deserved it. We knew the goal difference was important, but it was a complicated match. The MVP? I hope there are many more trophies; I’m very happy about this and for the victory,” he said in his post-match interview with ‘Movistar’.

Fermín’s stats against Slavia Prague

1. Minutes played: 72
2. Goals: 2
3. Assists: 0
4. Chances created: 1
5. Passes completed: 16 of 20 (80%)
6. Duels won: 4 of 10 (40%)
7. Defensive actions: 4
8. Recoveries: 1
9. Shots on target: 3 of 5 (60%)
10. Balls recovered: 2
11. Fouls: 2
12. Possession lost: 1