A bomb, a missile, and a life insurance policy: the hot notes from Slavia-Barça

BarcelonaA hard-fought victory for Barça at Slavia Prague (2-4). With this result, Hansi Flick's team maintains its chances of qualifying directly for the Champions League round of 16, but everything will be decided in a few days. Here are some immediate observations.

It will be exciting. Check if your transistors have batteries, because you'll need them for the final Champions League group stage match. Barça's qualification for the knockout rounds is guaranteed, but right now the Blaugrana are outside the top 8 (because of the goal average (general) and should play in the round of 32. They are one of the eight teams that will reach the final matchday with 13 points and a worse record than PSG, Newcastle, and Chelsea. Not only will they have to beat Copenhagen at the Camp Nou, but they will need to win by a large margin to earn a two-week break.

Fermín is a bombshell. Flick's tactical setup staggers the three midfielders, which enhances the attacking runs of the player occupying the position closest to a classic attacking midfield role. But beyond this, the German manager is fortunate that Xavi rescued Fermín in the summer of 2023 and transformed him into a player who continues to improve. The Andalusian has overtaken Dani Olmo, a more expensive and experienced player, and is vying to be one of the most decisive players in the final stretch of the season. In Prague, he added two more goals to his tally: the first after a clever run; and the second, a powerful and well-placed shot from the edge of the box. La Masia has provided a box to box Textbook case. It's normal that half of the Premier League is vying for him.

A missile and a problem. Dani Olmo didn't miss a single detail of Fermín's brilliant contribution in the first half and took to the frozen Eden Arena pitch ready to party. The Terrassa native was coming off a remarkable performance in the last league match and wasted no time showing he can also unleash some wicked shots. Just like in the derby earlier this year, he aimed for the far corner, sending a missile that was impossible for not one, but two goalkeepers to stop. The downside is that his appearance was an emergency solution to a muscle injury suffered by Pedri in his right leg, the same one that keeps bothering him. It looks very likely the Canary Islander will be out for a few weeks.

A Cinderella with too many advantages. Cubarsi, singled out for blame in Sunday's defeat at Anoeta, started the match on the bench. However, his absence didn't make Barça a more reliable team defensively. On the contrary: Gerard Martín struggled against the towering Chory, Balde was a pushover in some challenges, and De Jong had moments where he could only defend with his eyes. Eric Garcia, a rock at the back, did approach the entire match with the necessary intensity. But even so, the Martorell native was partly responsible for Slavia's two goals before halftime, both from corners. The Czechs had only scored one in the entire Champions League. Too many easy goals for one of the competition's underdogs.