Lorraine Williamson
Barcelona delivered a devastating performance at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on Tuesday night, sweeping aside Olympiacos 6-1 in front of a roaring home crowd. Fresh from their weekend derby victory over Girona in La Liga, Xavi’s side looked sharp, confident, and relentless from the very first whistle.
The match began at a blistering pace. Within seconds, Olympiacos tested the Barça defence with a shot on target that forced a corner, setting the tone for what promised to be an open encounter. But it was Barcelona who struck first — and fast. In the seventh minute, 18-year-old Lamine Yamal showed remarkable composure inside the box, threading the ball to Fermin Lopez, who slotted home a sublime opener.
Moments later, both Yamal and Marcus Rashford came close to doubling the lead, their efforts flashing just wide. The tempo was ferocious, and although the Greek side tried to fight back, the Catalans dominated possession and territory. By the half-hour mark, the scoreline still read 1-0, but the visitors were hanging on by a thread.
Then came the breakthrough. Lopez, already brimming with confidence, grabbed his second in the 39th minute with a clinical strike. Barça surged forward again before the break, but despite several near-misses, the half ended with the home side two goals to the good.
VAR drama and penalty confusion
The second half opened with more attacking intent from Barcelona, Lopez nearly sealing his hat-trick within minutes of the restart. But chaos soon followed. After a lengthy VAR review, an Olympiacos goal was first ruled out, then reinstated — while a potential Barça penalty was overturned. The sequence left both sets of players visibly frustrated, but when the dust settled, the Greek side’s goal stood, cutting the deficit to 2-1 just after the 50-minute mark.
The tension didn’t last long. On 63 minute, another VAR decision went in Barcelona’s favour. A penalty was awarded, and Yamal — cool as ever — stepped up to bury it, restoring the two-goal cushion at 3-1. Olympiacos’ task became even harder when Hezze was sent off for a reckless challenge midway through the second half.
Lopez hat-trick and Rashford brilliance seal the rout
As the visitors tired, Barcelona shifted gears once more. Rashford, electric throughout, found the net from inside the penalty area to make it 4-1. The Englishman’s movement and finishing kept the Greek defence on edge all night. Moments later, Lopez capped off a sensational display by completing his hat-trick, sending the crowd into raptures.
By now, Barça were unstoppable. Rashford added his second — a thunderous strike from just outside the box — taking the scoreline to 6-1 with ten minutes remaining. Substitutions followed, with Yamal leaving the pitch to a standing ovation after another mature, dynamic performance.
Despite five minutes of added time, there was no further change to the score. Barcelona’s clinical finishing, high press, and youthful energy proved too much for Olympiacos, who battled bravely but were thoroughly outclassed.
Barcelona’s Champions League hopes brighten
The emphatic victory lifts Barcelona to third in their group. However, others still have a game in hand and everything still to play for. With Bayern Munich and Real Madrid currently occupying the top two spots, the Catalan side’s resurgence under Xavi continues to gather momentum.
For Fermin Lopez, this night will be one to remember — a Champions League hat-trick that underlined his growing importance to the team. For the fans, it was a reminder that Barça’s attacking brilliance is alive and well in Europe once again.