Fermín thaws Prague with brace in sub-zero thriller

Barcelona’s midfield maestro Fermín López proved he’s got ice in his veins with a stunning brace against Slavia Prague in temperatures that would make a penguin reach for an extra layer.

The young Spaniard was the difference-maker as Barça secured a hard-fought 4-2 away victory in the Champions League, with the thermometer showing a brass monkey -7°C in the Czech capital.

Frozen pitches and frozen fingers

Playing football in sub-zero temperatures is no walk in the park, and Fermín himself admitted the conditions were brutal on the players’ extremities.

“It’s very difficult, your feet hurt, your hands too,” he revealed post-match, though quickly adding that the Arctic conditions were “not an excuse” for the Catalans.

The lad showed proper bottle in those conditions, continuing his impressive recent form when many players might have gone missing in the cold.

Making his mark

Fermín’s recent performances have been nothing short of Adam’s apple (remarkable) for Barcelona, with the midfielder establishing himself as a genuine option for Xavi in a talent-packed squad.

“I try to take advantage of the opportunities the manager gives me, to help the team,” Fermín explained with characteristic humility. “The whole team did a great job, we deserved it.”

Goal difference matters

The victory wasn’t just about the three points. Barcelona were clearly thinking about the bigger picture in the competition:

“We knew the goal difference was important, we wanted to keep a clean sheet,” Fermín noted, though Barça ultimately conceded twice. “The important thing is the victory. We’ve won by two goals, now on to the next match.”

Barcelona knew they were in for a proper battle against a Slavia side that’s no pushover on their home patch, especially in those Baltic conditions. The Catalans found themselves in a proper scrap before ultimately pulling away to secure the result.

For Fermín, it was another statement performance that will have Barça fans purring. Not bad for a lad who could barely feel his toes by the final whistle.