FC Barcelona has found its new Lamine Yamal

 

A few weeks after the home defeat against PSG, FC Barcelona had to react, and they did. The Catalans won comfortably (6-1) against Olympiacos in the Champions League, thus returning to winning ways and regaining confidence before the Clásico. The Culés demonstrated formidable efficiency, despite a first half marked by some technical approximations and difficulties controlling the game. There was no shortage of individual satisfaction in this display, with Fermín, naturally voted man of the match with a hat-trick, who was able to take advantage of his playmaking position to exploit the spaces created by the Greek high press. Not to mention the fine performance of Rashford, very active and persistent in the box, who scored two goals, while Lamine Yamal converted a penalty won thanks to the intervention of VAR. Olympiacos had opened the scoring with a penalty, but the numerical superiority and individual quality of the Blaugrana quickly turned the match in Barça's favor.

The match was fast-paced and intense, especially at the start of the second half, when Olympiacos tried to get back into the game. Refereeing decisions sparked protests, including the harsh second yellow card received by Hezze and the penalty awarded to Barcelona after Rashford dribbled. These events broke any momentum and allowed Barça to unfold its attacking play. Despite a certain lack of consistency in ball circulation, with inaccuracies from Koundé, Pedri, Balde, and even goalkeeper Szczesny, Barça was able to take advantage of the creativity and liveliness of Fermín, Rashford, and Dro to exploit spaces and build their plays effectively. Key passes, intelligent runs, and precise clearances made up for the lack of collective control, delivering a clear and reassuring victory for Flick's team.

The new darling is called Dro

In this context, Dro Fernandez shone in his first Champions League start. Playing on the left wing, he showed impressive maturity for his age, directing the play and serving as an effective link between midfield and attack. His assist for Fermín demonstrated his ability to read the game and position himself at the right time. And needless to say, the 17-year-old didn't hide his joy in the mixed zone at Montjuïc: " It's a very special, unforgettable day. I've always dreamed of playing these matches and I'm very happy. It was a bit complicated at the start of the second half, but we're confident for El Clasico after changing the dynamic. Flick asks me to enjoy the ball and press a lot without the ball, which I have to do like in training. I feel good in this winger position because the coach gives us the freedom to move." "I really want to play in El Clasico, I promise you ," explained the Catalan star after the match. His statistics reflect his performance with 18 out of 20 successful passes, 12 successful passes in the opposing half, and 100% success in his own half. Dro also completed his only long pass, showing that he could intervene in all phases of the game. His constant presence and availability facilitated the circulation of the ball, while also providing attacking solutions for his teammates.

" Dro's joy and Fermín's fury gave the players the courage to shout ," wrote the Catalan daily Sport this morning. Dro was able to combine tactical intelligence with technical audacity, remaining active without the ball, inserting himself into the gaps and participating in the quick transitions: " Left behind by the Greeks, his mobility in the back to win back the balls paid off in the action that led to the second goal ," explained Mundo Deportivo . Even when he wasn't touching the ball, his positioning and runs helped create space for Fermín, Rashford and Yamal. His accurate decisions and precise passing were crucial in maintaining the fluidity of Barcelona's play in the face of intense pressure. " He was good, he was in the right space, he provided the decisive pass for the second goal... He is very talented. I really enjoy working with him ," Hansi Flick said after the match in a press conference. This promising performance confirms that Dro Fernandez is a gem to watch, capable of quickly establishing himself at the highest level and bringing real value to Barça, both in the Champions League and the league.