Barcelona kept hope alive despite Prague’s biting cold

Barcelona battled against both the freezing Prague temperatures and a daunting early deficit to secure a vital 4-2 victory over Slavia Prague, keeping their hopes of progressing to the knockout stages alive. The match, played in bitter -6°C conditions—far below Barcelona’s usual January average of 13–15°C—presented the Catalan side with a formidable challenge.

The encounter began poorly for Barça, who fell behind within the opening ten minutes. A well-placed corner from Tomas Holes found Vasil Kusej, who made no mistake from close range, sending Slavia Prague into an early lead.

However, Barcelona soon regained their footing, thanks largely to Ferrmin Lopez, who scored twice to bring his team back into contention. In the 34th minute, Lopez struck from a close-range opportunity set up by Jindrich Stanek, and eight minutes later, he doubled his tally with a curling effort that left the goalkeeper stranded.

Just before half-time, Slavia Prague managed to level the score once more. A right-wing corner ricocheted off Robert Lewandowski’s shoulder and ended up in their own net, restoring parity at 2-2.

The second half saw Barcelona assert their dominance, despite the absence of Laminé Yamal due to suspension. The team’s attacking rhythm remained relentless, and substitutions made a decisive impact. Marcus Rashford and Dani Olmo entered the fray around the 60th minute. Within three minutes, Olmo scored a long-range strike that found the top corner of the net. Later, with a precise assist from Rashford, Lewandowski added Barcelona’s fourth goal, finishing with a deft hook shot.

Slavia Prague, by contrast, struggled throughout the tournament, earning only three points from seven matches and effectively ending their campaign, with one game still remaining.

Barcelona’s victory elevates them to ninth place in the group standings. To secure a place in the round of 16, they will need a home win against Copenhagen next Wednesday, coupled with favourable results elsewhere.

The Catalans continue to chase glory on multiple fronts. They recently won the Spanish Super Cup, lead La Liga, and are competing in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals—keeping alive their ambition of clinching four trophies this season.

Key Match Events:

Barcelona’s resilience in Prague, combined with strategic substitutions and clinical finishing, has kept their European dreams very much alive.