🥐 Barça win, more Champions League news... 5️⃣ stories to start your day | OneFootball

Lots of news to kick off Thursday. The seventh matchday of the Champions League has left a bittersweet taste for Spanish football, with FC Barcelona securing a much-needed victory in Prague (2-4), which was, however, overshadowed by the worrying injury to Pedri.

While Fermín and Olmo provided the goals and hope to stay alive in Europe, the Canary Islander’s visible pain in his hamstrings set off all the alarms within the Barça camp ahead of the decisive stretch of the season.

Beyond the Barça drama, the continental scene was rounded out by Athletic’s heroic win over Atalanta and the unexpected stumble of a wasteful Atlético de Madrid in Istanbul.

All of this on a day when the boardrooms also took center stage, with Vinicius Junior’s contract renewal entering its final phase and confirmation of a new Clásico in the grand final of the Women’s Super Cup after Barça’s hard-fought comeback against Athletic.

Comeback of faith at the Fortuna Arena

FC Barcelona achieved a vital victory against Slavia Prague (2-4) that keeps their Champions League hopes alive. Fermín López, with a stellar brace, and Dani Olmo, who scored a true screamer, led a much-needed comeback after a hesitant start. Now, the Blaugrana are obliged to beat Copenhagen in the final matchday and cross their fingers for favorable results elsewhere.

The flip side: Pedri falls again

It wasn’t all joy in Prague. The negative note came from Pedri, who left the pitch showing obvious signs of pain in his right hamstring. The Canary Islands international will undergo definitive medical tests today in Barcelona to determine the exact extent of the injury. The club and fans are holding their breath at what could be another lengthy absence for their creative engine.

Highs and lows for Athletic and Atlético de Madrid

Elsewhere in the European matchday, Athletic Club delivered a heroic night by toppling Atalanta with three flashes of quality that allow them to depend on themselves for the playoffs. In contrast, Atlético de Madrid suffered a lapse in Istanbul; after taking an early lead with a goal from Giuliano, an unfortunate own goal by Marcos Llorente sealed a bitter draw against Galatasaray.

Vinicius Junior and his future at Real Madrid

In the Bernabéu offices, the noise around a renewal is getting louder. The presence of his agent, Federico Pena, at the stadium during the last match has accelerated rumors about the Brazilian’s contract extension. Although his current deal expires in 2027, the club is eager to secure their star as soon as possible to avoid any outside temptation.

Top-level final in the Women’s Super Cup

Spanish women’s football will see another Clásico in the Super Cup final. FC Barcelona booked their place after coming from behind against Athletic Club (3-1) in a match marked by epic moments. Despite Kika’s sending off before halftime, the Blaugrana showed their experience to overcome a very combative Bilbao side and set up a clash with Real Madrid for the first title of the year.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

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