FC Barcelona secured a crucial 4-2 victory over Slavia Praha in a thrilling Champions League encounter at Fortuna Arena.
Slavia Praha took an early lead through Vasil Kusej around the 10th minute.
Barcelona responded with a Fermín López brace, but an own goal by Robert Lewandowski from a corner leveled it at 2-2 just before halftime.
In the second half, Dani Olmo restored Barça’s lead with a stunning long-range strike, and Lewandowski sealed the win with a close-range finish.
The win boosted Barcelona’s push for a top-eight finish, despite defensive lapses, while Slavia’s struggles continued.
A thrilling, end-to-end encounter with six goals.
Here are the 5 things we learned:
1. High defensive line remains vulnerable to early set-pieces and quick transitions
Slavia scored first from a corner, exposing how Barcelona’s aggressive pressing and high line can be punished if opponents win second balls or exploit disorganized moments.
Even with 60%+ possession, lapses in concentration at the back allow underdogs to strike early.
2. Set-piece defending needs tightening
The opening goal came directly from a corner routine, highlighting a recurring issue where Barcelona’s zonal marking or aerial duels can be exploited by physical, well-drilled teams like Slavia.
This is a reminder that clean sheets are hard to come by without better organization on dead balls.
3. Finishing clinical chances is crucial, but so is avoiding self-inflicted errors
Barcelona fought back brilliantly with Fermín López’s brace, but Lewandowski’s own goal (deflecting in to make it 2-2) gifted Slavia the equalizer.
It underscores that individual mistakes in the box can undo momentum, especially in high-stakes UCL games where every error counts.
4. Squad depth and key absences matter in rotation-heavy periods
With players like Lamine Yamal suspended and Ferran Torres’ injury concerns, reliance on players like Roony, Lewandowski, and others shone through—but the draw shows the team still needs full squad availability to maintain intensity away from home against resilient opponents.
5. Mental resilience and fightback ability are strengths, but consistency is key for the top-8 push
Barcelona showed character by turning 0-1 into 2-1 quickly, proving Flick’s high-intensity style can overwhelm teams.
However, failing to hold the lead highlights the need for better game management to secure wins in must-not-lose fixtures, especially with slim margins in the league phase standings.
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