Flick lauds Barcelona’s explosive win as Yamal readies for El Clasico

Match Day Triumph Fuels Barça Ahead of Clasico

Hans Flick, Barcelona’s head coach, expressed happiness with the emphatic 6-1 win over Olympiacos in the third group-stage match of the Champions League, noting it would give his team a strong morale boost ahead of the eagerly awaited Clasico against Real Madrid on Sunday.

Flick said after the game that he was completely satisfied with the result, adding: "Yes, I’m very happy. We faced some difficulties at the start, but we deserved the victory. Every goal and win matters for us at this stage."

The German coach declined to engage in debate over the referee’s decisions that had angered Olympiacos coach Mendilibar, stating: "That’s not my problem. I understand his frustration, but I don’t want to judge the referee. In football there are calls for you and against you; what matters is focusing on the play on the pitch."

Fermin López shines with a hat-trick

Flick praised the performance of Fermin López, who shone brilliantly and netted a hat-trick, saying: "Fermin is a complete player. He scores, he runs, and he delivers a superb performance. What he did today was exceptional. His first goal was crucial because it gave us confidence. He has dynamism, pace, and great qualities."

Clasico Readiness and Yamal’s Fitness

The coach turned to the Clasico against Real Madrid, saying: "The important thing is that we won today; this gives us confidence before the Clasico. A huge match awaits. We must recover energy quickly and prepare well. Last season we won, but that’s in the past. I’m optimistic because I see the team capable of competing, and perhaps we’ll have some players back before kickoff."

Flick also confirmed Lamine Yamal’s fitness for the Clasico: "Lamine has no issue. He celebrated a win today like the rest of the group, and on Sunday he’ll be at his best. He’s a player used to shining in big games."

Six-Goal Night and Player Milestones

Barcelona stormed past Olympiacos 6-1 on Tuesday evening in the Champions League group stage at the Blaugrana’s home ground, the Louis Companys Olympic Stadium.

For Barça, Marcus Rashford bagged a brace in the 74th and 79th minutes, while Fermin López added a hat-trick in the 7th, 38th, and 76th minutes, with Lamine Yamal converting a late penalty in the 68th to complete the Catalan goals.

Olympiacos managed a lone consolation via Moroccan star Ayoub El Kaabi from a 53rd-minute spot-kick.

With the win, Barça moved to six points, sitting third, while Olympiacos remained on one point in 32nd place.

Notable Statistics

Opta notes Barça scored six in a European match for the first time since March 2017’s win over Paris Saint‑Germain. López became the first Spanish player to score a hat-trick for Barça in the Champions League, and he is also the youngest Spanish player to score twice in the competition since 2012.

And Lamine Yamal, at 18 years and 100 days, became the second-youngest Barça player to feature in 25 Champions League appearances. The under-19 cohort that contributed included Yamal and other young talents, with Didier-like records broken on a night of milestones. The second-youngest to provide an assist on his CL debut was a teammate aged 17 years and 282 days, behind Giovanni Reina’s 2020 mark of 17 years and 97 days.

Additionally, at 18 years and 100 days, Yamal became the second-youngest player to convert a penalty in the competition’s history, with Bojan Krkic previously achieving a similar feat at 18 years and 90 days in 2008. Opta also noted that several under-19s created and converted chances, marking a rare historical moment for Barça’s academy talents in Europe.