Fermin Lopez eases Barcelona fears amid difficult striker search | OneFootball

Barcelona made a fantastic start to the 2026-27 season on Sunday, as they comprehensively defeated Elche 5-0. Raphinha (x2), Karim Adeyemi and Fermin Lopez (x2) got the goals, and for the latter, it was a particularly special evening, as he bounced back from a very difficult summer.

Fermin was ruled out of the 2026 World Cup after suffering a serious injury in the final weeks of the previous campaign, and that caused him a lot of pain – both physically and mentally. However, he was delighted to put that behind him with an opening-day brace at Elche, as he told the media post-match (via MD).

Fermin: We have many different striker options right now

Against Elche, Raphinha started as a central striker, with Fermin, Lamine Yamal and Karim Adeyemi behind him. Hansi Flick took this decision due to Barcelona not having a natural number nine following the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres, and while the plan is to bring someone in before the transfer window closes, Fermin believes the club are in good hands even if they fail to do the required business.

“We trust Deco and the sports management. Whatever they decide is the best for the team. It is true that within the team we have many different options and I think we showed it today. These are things that don’t depend on us and I’m sure they’ll do their best for the club.”

Fermin is one of the striker options that Flick can turn to, with the same also being said for Raphinha, Anthony Gordon and Dani Olmo. While they are all top players, Barcelona will be keen to ensure that a more natural option comes in before next week’s deadline.