Barcelona Champions League win over Slavia Prague boosts top-eight hopes as Fermin Lopez scores twice in a 4-2 away victory

Barcelona strengthened their push for a top-eight finish in the Champions League league phase with a crucial 4-2 away victory over Slavia Prague, inspired by a first-half brace from Fermin Lopez.

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The result keeps Barcelona firmly in contention for automatic qualification to the last 16, with the Catalan club set to host FC Copenhagen in their final league phase fixture next week.

Barcelona returned to winning ways after their La Liga defeat at Real Sociedad ended an 11-match winning run.

The visitors showed composure on a freezing night despite falling behind early.

Slavia Prague, the reigning Czech champions, took the lead in the 10th minute when Vasil Kusej forced the ball over the line at the far post following Tomas Holes’s glancing header from a corner.

Barcelona responded with growing authority. Fermin Lopez equalised in the 34th minute after Frenkie de Jong’s incisive pass found him unmarked inside the penalty area.

The midfielder struck again eight minutes later, drilling a low shot past goalkeeper Jindrich Stanek to give Barcelona the lead and underline his rising influence.

Slavia drew level just before the interval when Robert Lewandowski inadvertently diverted a corner into his own net, briefly swinging momentum back to the hosts.

Barcelona regained control in the second half. Dani Olmo restored the lead in the 63rd minute with a superb strike into the top corner, moments after replacing Pedri.

Lewandowski made amends in the 71st minute, finishing from close range after a measured assist from Marcus Rashford to seal the Barcelona Champions League win.

Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick was without suspended winger Lamine Yamal and injured striker Ferran Torres.

The match was preceded by a minute’s silence in memory of the victims of Sunday’s train crash in Spain.

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The defeat confirmed Slavia’s elimination from the competition, leaving the Czech side third from bottom after a fourth loss in seven European matches.