Fermín López emerged because the star for an injury-hit FC Barcelona aspect of their UEFA Champions League conflict in opposition to Olympiacos. The midfielder stole the highlight with a hat trick on Matchday 3 of the 2025–26 marketing campaign, outshining Lamine Yamal and writing a brand new chapter in Barca’s storied historical past.
With key attacking gamers like Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski sidelined by way of harm, head coach Hansi Flick turned to López and 17-year-old Dro Fernández to affix Lamine Yamal and Marcus Rashford within the assault. The gamble paid off, because the Spanish midfielder struck thrice in a 6–1 victory on the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium.
Together with his hat trick in opposition to Olympiacos, Fermín López turned the primary Spanish participant ever to attain a hat trick for FC Barcelona within the historical past of the UEFA Champions League. Luis Enrique had beforehand scored three targets in a single European match, however that got here within the UEFA Cup (now the Europa League), that means López has written his personal piece of historical past for the Catalan giants.
A number of Spanish stars have formed Barcelona’s legacy, from midfield icons like Xavi Hernández and Andrés Iniesta to forwards comparable to David Villa. But none of them ever managed to report three targets in a single Champions League match. And with a rising star like Yamal sharing the sphere, López’s efficiency stood out much more as he claimed the report for himself.
Fermin Lopez of FC Barcelona celebrates scoring his group’s second purpose with teammate Lamine Yamal.
After the match, López mirrored on the milestone with a heartfelt message in his postgame interview: “My first hat trick with Barca, a dream come true. Now it’s time to maintain working. Having the gamers signal the ball too, it’s due to them as effectively.”
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Lamine Yamal nonetheless chasing first hat trick with Barcelona
Yamal’s rise on the worldwide stage has despatched shockwaves by way of world soccer, to the purpose that the younger winger was even shortlisted for the 2025 Ballon d’Or alongside Ousmane Dembélé. Nevertheless, regardless of his expertise, the 18-year-old remains to be ready for his first hat trick with Barcelona.
Yamal has made 113 appearances for the Blaugrana, scoring 28 targets and offering 40 assists — numbers that spotlight his affect as a playmaker quite than a pure finisher. In reality, he has solely recorded two braces in his profession to this point: one in February 2024 in opposition to Granada, and one other in opposition to Girona in September 2024, that means he’s had few possibilities to bag three targets in a single recreation.
