First-half goals from Fermín López and second-half strikes by Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski sealed a 4–2 Champions League victory for Barcelona away to Slavia Prague on Wednesday.
The win keeps Barcelona firmly in contention for a top-eight finish in the league phase, which would guarantee direct qualification to the last 16. The Catalans host FC Copenhagen in their final league phase fixture next week.
Barcelona returned to winning ways on a freezing night in Prague after their La Liga defeat at San Sebastian on Sunday brought an end to an 11-match winning run.
Slavia Prague, the reigning Czech champions, were playing their first competitive match after the winter break and had struggled in Europe this season, managing only three draws and two goals prior to this fixture. Despite that record, the hosts made a bright start and took the lead in the 10th minute when striker Vasil Kušej forced the ball over the line at the far post following Tomáš Holeš’s glancing header from a corner.
Barcelona responded in the 34th minute when López latched onto a pass from captain Frenkie de Jong, finding space inside the box to slot home the equaliser. López struck again eight minutes later, firing a low shot that caught Slavia goalkeeper Jindřich Staněk off guard.
Just before half-time, Slavia levelled the score when Lewandowski inadvertently deflected a corner into the net past his own goalkeeper, Joan Garcia, sending both teams into the break at 2–2.
Barcelona regained control in the second half, with Olmo making an instant impact. Three minutes after replacing Pedri, he unleashed a powerful strike into the top corner in the 63rd minute to restore the visitors’ lead.
Lewandowski then made amends for his earlier own goal in the 71st minute, calmly finishing from close range after a pass from Marcus Rashford to complete the scoring.
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick was without suspended teenager Lamine Yamal and striker Ferran Torres, who missed out due to a muscle injury.
The match was preceded by a minute’s silence in memory of the victims of Sunday’s train crash in Spain, which claimed 43 lives.
The defeat confirmed Slavia Prague’s elimination from the competition, as a fourth loss in seven European matches left them third-bottom in the standings.
