Barca's six kills the Greeks: Fermin bags hat-trick, as Flick launches new gem

Olympiacos' trip to Barcelona was a genuine Greek tragedy. Despite Jose Luis Mendilibar's crew's decent performance before the break the Catalans showed their strength and with a tad bit of luck (who said ref's help?) brushed the Greeks aside - 6-1.

Fermin Lopez bagged a first-half brace, and still wasn't the first star of the match, as that role was given to Barca's 17-year-old UCL debutant and the new gem, Pedro 'Dro' Fernandez, who recorded an assist for Fermin's second goal, and enchanted the football world.

Flick & Deco dispute over Barca's 'Jupiter' Yamal, and the German isn't happy

After the break, the visitors reduced the gap from the spot over Ayoub El Kaabi, but shortly received a red card and conceded a penalty, which Lamine Yamal sent home.

By the end of the match, the ten-man Olympiacos conceded three more goals, as Marcus Rashford bagged a brace, and Fermin completed a hat-trick.

Still, the impression is that Barca's job would have definitely been much more difficult, had it not been for the red card. This way, it helped Flick's team destroy the rival.

Even though Olympiacos stood up to the much stronger rival, Barcelona's quality eventually prevailed. After all, the Greeks wasted the first chance in the game after only 30 seconds, and had it not been for Wojciech Szczesny, they would have stunned the giants.

However, as the half-time break approached, Hansi Flick's men's dominance was more visible, and the rewards came in the seventh and 39th minute, both with Fermin Lopez's name on them.

The Spaniard first put Raphinha's rebound into the net, and 32 minutes later, he exploited the 17-year-old Pedro Fernandez's (nicknamed Dro) perfect pass, helping the teenager record an assist on his Champions League debut, and all that after clocking just 45 minutes for Barca's first team against Real Sociedad 23 days ago.

Nevertheless, as if the comfortable advantage made the La Liga side complacent, they gave too much freedom to Olympiacos, which took advantage of it nine minutes after the break after an odd turn of events. Namely, the Greeks netted over Ayoub El Kaabi, but the goal was disallowed for offside. Yet, prior to that situation, Barca's Eric Garcia handballed in the area, so the visitors got another chance to score their first goal in the ongoing UCL campaign. This time, there was no mistake, as the Moroccan striker was impeccable from the spot, making it 2-1.

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Still, Olympiacos' hopes were shortly crushed, as their midfielder Santiago Hezze received a second yellow card just three minutes following El Kaabi's goal. The visitors quickly learned that "when it rains, it pours," as the Catalans' were awarded a penalty kick eleven minutes after the Argentinian's dismissal. The keeper Konstantinos Tzolakis fouled Marcus Rashford in the box, and Lamine Yamal sent the spot-kick home, increasing his team's lead to 3-1.

Blaugrana's scoring spree continued with the Englishman's brace (74th and 79th minutes), while Fermin completed a hat-trick in the meantime. Afterwards, the Catalans stopped tormenting the sorry Greeks, calling it a day after the sixth goal.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 3

Tuesday

Barcelona - Olympiacos 6-1 (2-0)

/Fermin Lopez 7, 39, 76, Yamal 68 pen, Rashford 74, 79 - El Kaabi 54 pen/

Kairat - Pafos 0-0

22.00: (1.62) Arsenal (4.15) Atl.Madrid (6.00)

22.00: (4.50) Copenhagen (3.80) Dortmund (1.80)

22.00: (5.05) Leverkusen (4.30) PSG (1.67)

22.00: (1.67) Newcastle (4.20) Benfica (5.45)

22.00: (3.10) PSV (3.60) Napoli (2.35)

22.00: (4.65) St.Gilloise (3.85) Inter (1.80)

22.00: (4.55) Villareal (4.10) Man.City (1.80)

Wednesday

19.45: (1.35) Ath.Bilbao (5.50) Qarabag (10.0)

19.45: (1.57) Galatasaray (4.10) Bodo (5.80)

22.00: (1.45) Atalanta (4.50) Slavia Praha (7.00)

22.00: (1.18) Bayern (7.75) Club Brugge (13.0)

22.00: (1.25) Chelsea (6.50) Ajax (10.5)

22.00: (5.10) Eintr.Frankfurt (4.70) Liverpool (1.63)

22.00: (2.90) Monaco (3.45) Tottenham (2.40)

22.00: (1.48) Real Madrid (4.50) Juventus (6.75)

22.00: (2.25) Sporting (3.80) Olympique Marseille (3.15)

***odds are subject to change***