Slavia Praha 2-4 Barcelona Player Ratings: Fermin Lopez Leads Heroic Comeback as Catalans Win Tough Contest

Slavia Praha and FC Barcelona produced an enthralling UEFA Champions League match filled with goals and momentum shifts. In this article, we'll discuss Slavia Praha vs Barcelona player ratings from the UCL clash.

The home side made a strong start and surprised the visitors with an early goal. Vasil Kusej scored to give Slavia Praha the lead and raise hopes of an upset.

FC Barcelona responded well after the early setback. Fermín López was the standout performer in the first half, scoring twice to turn the match in Barcelona’s favor. However, Slavia Praha were given a boost before the break when Robert Lewandowski scored an own goal, leaving the score level at 2-2 at halftime.

In the second half, Barcelona showed their quality and squad depth. Substitute Dani Olmo scored a long-range goal to put Barcelona back in front. Lewandowski later redeemed himself by scoring at the right end to secure a 4-2 win. The match featured attacking football from both teams, along with several defensive mistakes, making for an exciting contest for spectators.

Key Takeaways

1. Vasil Kusej scored early to give Slavia Praha the lead.
2. Fermín López scored twice in the first half for FC Barcelona.
3. Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski scored in the second half to seal Barcelona’s 4–2 victory.

Barcelona Player Ratings vs Slavia Praha

Check out Barcelona player ratings from the UEFA Champions League match:

Goalkeeper

Joan García - 6.0: Conceded two goals, one of which he could do little about. He made one save and a couple of clearances. From our view, it was a relatively quiet night for him despite the scoreline, as Slavia Praha didn't test him enough after their initial flurry. A standard performance.

Defenders

Alejandro Balde - 6.5: A solid outing for the left-back. He was perfect in his duels, winning all six he contested, which is impressive. His passing was tidy, and he completed both of his dribbles. He wasn't a huge attacking threat but fulfilled his defensive duties well before being substituted.

Gerard Martín - 7.0: What stood out to us was his dominance in duels, winning a staggering 10 out of 13. He was a rock at the back, making four tackles and six clearances. However, his two errors leading to shots were a major blemish on an otherwise commanding defensive display.

Jules Koundé - 6.5: A decent performance from Koundé. He was strong in his defensive work, winning most of his duels and making three tackles. He tried to contribute offensively with some dribbles and passes into the final third. A steady, if not spectacular, night for the Frenchman.

Eric García - 7.5: We thought he was excellent on the ball, with a massive 98 touches and completing 10 long balls. He was also a beast in the air, winning six aerial duels. He even forced a great save from the opposition keeper. A really commanding and progressive display from the centre-back.

Midfielders

Pedri - 6.0: He was just getting into the game, providing an assist with a key pass, but his night was cruelly cut short by injury. He looked a bit loose in possession, losing the ball 15 times in just 61 minutes. We were disappointed to see him go off; hopefully, the injury isn't serious.

Raphinha - 6.0: A frustrating night for the Brazilian. He created three chances and looked to make things happen, but his final product was lacking. He only completed one dribble and lost the ball ten times. Not his most effective game by a long shot.

Fermín López - 9.0: The undisputed man of the match. What a performance! He scored a fantastic brace to drag his team back into the game, with his second being a wonderful strike. He was a ball of energy, constantly shooting and creating. A truly game-changing display from the youngster.

Frenkie de Jong - 7.5: The metronome in Barcelona's midfield. He controlled the play with 90% pass accuracy and created four chances, including a lovely assist. His defensive contribution was also immense, with 10 ball recoveries. The late yellow card was the only negative on a very composed performance.

Roony Bardghji - 6.0: A quiet game for the youngster. His pass completion was excellent, but he struggled to make a real impact in the final third. He was dispossessed four times and won only a third of his duels before being subbed off.

Forwards

Robert Lewandowski - 6.5: A bizarre evening for the Polish striker. He scored a baffling own goal that brought Slavia level. However, he showed great character to bounce back and score at the right end to seal the win. Still, losing possession 19 times is not what you expect from a player of his calibre.

Substitutes

Dani Olmo - 8.0: Came on for the injured Pedri and made an immediate, spectacular impact. His goal from outside the box was a thing of beauty and proved to be the match-winner. A perfect cameo.

Marcus Rashford - 7.5: Another super sub. He provided two assists in his time on the pitch, using his pace to terrorize the tiring defence. His introduction was a key factor in Barcelona securing the win.

Marc Bernal - N/A: Came on late to see out the game.

Ronald Araujo - N/A: Brought on in the final ten minutes to shore up the defence.

Manager

H. Flick - 7.5: His team started slowly and looked vulnerable at the back. However, his decision-making with substitutions was spot on. Bringing on Olmo and Rashford completely changed the dynamic of the game and secured a vital three points in a tricky away fixture.

Slavia Praha Player Ratings vs FC Barcelona

Here are Slavia Praha player ratings from the Slavia Praha vs Barcelona game:

Goalkeeper

Jindrich Stanek - 7.0: Conceding four goals is never good, but honestly, where would they have been without him? He made eight saves, some of which were absolutely top-drawer. He kept his team's hopes alive for much longer than they deserved. A heroic effort in a losing cause.

Defenders

Stepan Chaloupek - 5.5: It was a difficult night for the entire backline. He made a few important clearances and tackles but also committed three fouls. He struggled to cope with the movement and quality of Barcelona's attackers, which was a recurring theme.

Tomas Holes - 6.5: Provided a clever headed assist for the opening goal and looked solid in the first half. We were surprised to see him substituted at halftime. It seemed like a tactical switch that didn't entirely pay off for the home side.

David Zima - 5.5: He had a few decent moments, winning his duels and making some clearances. However, he was part of a defence that was ultimately carved open too easily. He struggled to impose himself on the game as Barcelona's attackers grew in confidence.

Oscar - 5.0: A really tough game for Oscar. He was part of a defensive unit that shipped four goals and he looked overwhelmed at times. He made a few tackles but struggled to contain the flow of attacks down his flank. A night to forget for the defender.

Midfielders

Vasil Kusej - 7.2: Gave his team a dream start with a well-taken goal. He was a livewire in the opening stages, causing problems with his direct running. His influence waned as Barcelona took control, but he can be proud of his contribution.

Youssoupha Sanyang - 6.5: A combative performance. He won a remarkable 11 duels and made five tackles, showing real fight in the midfield battle. However, his work on the ball wasn't as effective, and he lost possession frequently.

David Moses - 6.5: He was very effective in his 46 minutes on the pitch. He won six of his seven duels and drew three fouls, disrupting Barcelona's rhythm. A tidy and combative display before being substituted at the half.

Michal Sadílek - 6.5: He created four chances and delivered some excellent crosses. His set-piece delivery was a constant threat. Defensively, he put in a shift, but it wasn't enough to stem the Barcelona tide. A mixed performance.

Forwards

Lukas Provod - 6.0: He was busy and had 80 touches, but the end product just wasn't there. He lost possession an alarming 24 times and was unsuccessful with most of his dribbles. He kept trying to make things happen but it was a frustrating evening for him.

Tomas Chory - 5.5: A difficult night leading the line. He barely had a sniff at goal and lost almost all of his duels. He was isolated for long periods and struggled to hold up the ball effectively. It was no surprise when he was taken off.

Substitutes

David Doudera - 6.0: Came on at halftime and tried to provide some energy, but couldn't change the game's outcome.

Tomás Vlcek - 6.0: Brought on for the second half and had a decent spell without any major errors.

Ivan Schranz - 6.0: Missed a decent headed chance not long after coming on. Looked lively but lacked the killer instinct.

Muhammed Cham - 6.0: Drew a couple of fouls but didn't have enough time to make a real impact.

Mojmír Chytil - N/A: A late substitute with little time to influence proceedings.

Manager

J. Trpišovský - 6.0: His team started with a fantastic game plan that caught Barcelona cold. The early goal was a testament to that. However, his team couldn't sustain the intensity, and the defensive structure crumbled under pressure. His substitutions didn't have the desired effect to turn the tide back in his team's favour.

Man of the Match

Sportsdunia's player of the match was Fermin Lopez after scoring a brace for Barcelona.

Worst Performer

Oscar of Slavia Praha failed to showcase his top form.