Barcelona's dynamic duo: Olmo and Fermín lighting up the new year
With Pedri and De Jong sidelined for the Copenhagen clash, Barça's in-form attacking midfielders could start together in a tactical reshuffle by Flick.
Barcelona’s attacking midfield talent has been the bread and butter of their success in 2026, with Fermín López and Dani Olmo hitting purple patches at just the right time.
New year, new dynamism
Seven games into 2026 and the Blaugrana have been absolutely spoiled by the form of their two attacking midfielders. In every single match this year, at least one of this crafty pair has made a telling contribution. Talk about consistency!
The calendar year kicked off with both men making their mark against local rivals Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium. The Andalusian Fermín provided two assists while Catalan-born Olmo found the back of the onion bag. Not a bad way to start proceedings, eh?
Super Cup heroics
The Spanish Super Cup saw Fermín take center stage with a masterclass against Athletic Club in the semi-finals. The lad was on absolute fire:
- Two assists orchestrating the play
- A goal of his own to cap off a brilliant individual display
- Contributed to a thumping 5-0 victory over Valverde’s men
He wasn’t done there either. In the El Clásico final, Fermín continued his creative streak by setting up Raphinha for Barcelona’s opener against their eternal rivals.
Copa contributions and league form
Back on domestic soil, the Copa del Rey round of 16 tie against Racing Santander saw Fermín maintain his creative touch with another assist, this time for Ferran Torres.
While the pair couldn’t prevent a defeat against Real Sociedad in La Liga (with Olmo particularly frustrated after missing several chances), they bounced back spectacularly against Slavia Prague. Fermín bagged a brace before Olmo came off the bench to score the winner in a 3-2 triumph. The brief period they shared on the pitch offered a tantalizing glimpse of what might become a regular partnership.
In their most recent outing against Oviedo, Olmo stole the show by scoring the opener and then setting up wonderkid Lamine Yamal for Barcelona’s third goal.
Copenhagen calling
With Pedri injured and De Jong suspended for Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Copenhagen, Hansi Flick might be forced into a tactical rethink that could see both Olmo and Fermín start together.
The German tactician could opt for a 4-3-3 formation with Eric García anchoring the midfield as a pivot, allowing both Olmo and Fermín to operate as interior midfielders. The forward line would then feature the formidable trio of Yamal, Lewandowski and Raphinha.
If the brief cameos they’ve shared are anything to go by, this could be the start of something proper special in Barcelona’s engine room.