Marcus Rashford scored twice and Fermin Lopez netted a brilliant hat-trick as Barcelona thumped Olympiacos 6-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday. Hansi Flick's side blitzed their opposition with four goals in 11 second-half minutes, as they took advantage of a remarkably harsh sending off that reduced the visitors to 10 men.
Barca could have had the lead within five minutes, only for Rashford's volley from 10 yards to zip over the crossbar instead of nestling in the top corner. But they didn't have to wait long, as Fermin scored just two minutes later, lashing home after Lamine Yamal had slalomed his way into the box beyond multiple defenders and goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis.
Fermin added a second before half-time, collecting a fine pass from teenager Dro Fernandez, before sitting down a defender and finishing coolly.
On 49 minutes, Olympiacos had a goal back, as striker Ayoub El Kaabi rose above Eric Garcia to score. However, the strike was ruled out for offside, with a penalty awarded instead due to a handball by Garcia in the build-up; fortunately for the visitors, El Kaabi stepped up and scored again.
Within six minutes, the Greek side were down to 10 men, as Santiago Hezze was shown a second yellow card for apparently brushing the face of Marc Casado in a decision that left the visitors rightly frustrated. That sense of injustice only deepened when Barca won a penalty after the hour, as Rashford was brought down by Tzolakis. A VAR review was required, and replays suggested that the Manchester United loanee bought the spot-kick, although Yamal had no qualms with putting it straight down the middle from 12 yards.
Rashford had time to add a fourth with a fine finish from inside the area, before Fermin completed his hat-trick in style with a thumping strike of a bouncing ball. Rashford added a sixth from range to put the cherry on the cake of an easy win ahead of Sunday's Clasico clash with Real Madrid.
GOAL rates Barcelona's players from Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys…
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Wojciech Szczesny (6/10):
Didn't have a lot to do but was well beaten by Olympiacos' penalty.
Jules Kounde (7/10):
Glanced a header wide in the first half. Barely tested throughout. Subbed as Flick managed his minutes.
Pau Cubarsi (7/10):
Played well. Strong on the ball as well as off it and barely looked troubled by Olympiacos' forays forward.
Eric Garcia (6/10):
Handled the ball before Olympiacos' penalty. A little unlucky as he was involved in the usual penalty box jostling.
Alejandro Balde (7/10):
Set up Rashford for the fourth, and got up and down the flank as well as he always does. Subbed as Flick cast an eye towards this weekend's Clasico.
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Pedri (8/10):
Everywhere in midfield. He mucks in defensively, barely gives the ball away, and stitches together defence and attack with a minimum of fuss. An exceptional operator.
Marc Casado (5/10):
Not as solid as he could be, and was bypassed more than once by Olympiacos. Takes care of the ball well but needs a bit more steel. Also got Hezze sent off with a disgraceful dive, which blots his copybook significantly.
Dro Fernandez (7/10):
Found Fermin for his second. Just 17, always looking to get on the ball, and has an assist under his belt. Could be a bit stronger off the ball, but he's a teenager; a very promising start.
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Lamine Yamal (8/10):
Incredible dribbling before Fermin's opener left Olympiacos' backline at sixes and sevens and the goalkeeper on his back. Smoothly dispatched his penalty straight down the middle. Such a threat.
Marcus Rashford (9/10):
Fired a volley over within five minutes, but won the penalty in the second half as he trailed a leg and was brought down by Tzolakis. Scored the fourth with a smart finish, before adding a sixth from the edge of the box after an outrageous first touch. Get him on the plane for the World Cup now!
Fermin Lopez (9/10):
Scored the opener, finishing beyond a clutch of Olympiacos bodies after some dazzling Yamal dribbling. Added a second with another ice-cold finish, then completed his hat-trick with 15 minutes to go. He's some player and appears to be realising his significant potential.
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Frenkie De Jong (7/10):
Replaced Dro. Slotted in and played as we all know he can; keeping the ball and making Barca tick.
Roony Bardghji (7/10):
Off the bench, beat his man, slipped, and his cross found Fermin for his hat-trick. A remarkable impact.
Gerard Martin (N/A):
On in the second half.
Ronald Araujo (N/A):
On late.
Marc Bernal (N/A):
Replaced Pedri.
Hansi Flick (8/10):
A perfect evening. Ahead of El Clasico, he will have wanted a straightforward win with the option to rotate thoroughly. Ask, and it shall be done.