Fermin 9, De Jong 8.5 | Slavia Prague 2-4 Barcelona: Player Ratings | OneFootball

Barcelona’s penultimate game of the league stage of the UEFA Champions League saw them travel to Prague to take on Slavia Prague at sub-zero temperatures.

The hosts were playing their first official game in over a month and a half, yet, they looked anything but poorly oiled against the Catalans.

In fact, it was them who took the lead early in the game from a set-piece before Fermin Lopez scored a great equaliser. The sequence then repeated itself in reverse as Fermin scored to give Barcelona the lead before the hosts scored from a corner to level the score once more.

Eventually, goals from Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski after the break gave the team a decisive lead and the three points.

Barça Universal brings you the player ratings from Slavia Prague 2-4 Barcelona.

Joan Garcia: 6.5

For the first time in a long time, the Barcelona goalkeeper had no answers to the goals scored past him and, surprisingly, it came against Slavia Prague.

Both of the opposition’s goals in the opening half came from corners, and Garcia was nowhere close to saving them on the night. He indeed had to rely on his instincts to make the reflexive saves, but they rarely let him down.

Alejandro Balde: 6.5

Balde was constantly troubled, by the hosts’ number nine Vasil Kusej through the ninety minutes as the player stuck to Balde’s flank and exploited the space behind him in defence.

As a result, he did not push high enough in attack as he usually does, leaving him with a performance where he neither offered much substance in attack nor was solid at the back.

Gerard Martin: 6

Martin had a forgettable night against Slavia Prague as he failed to judge many of the opposition’s through balls and even came close to an unnecessarily rash foul in the first half.

He had no answers to the hosts’ energy and high-pressure and was part of the abysmal set-piece defending as well.

Eric Garcia: 7

Garcia was the slightly better of the two centre-backs, especially in terms of dealing with direct threats and through balls on the hosts’ counter-attack.

He too, however, was poor with his defending in set-pieces and owns part of the blame for conceding from two corners.

Jules Kounde: 6

Kounde was perhaps Barcelona’s worst defender in the first half as he offered nothing of substance in either department.

His defensive contribution and solidity was poor both in open play and set-pieces while he struggled to combine with Roony Bardghji in Lamine Yamal’s absence.

Pedri: 7

Pedri had a rare off night for a large part of the game last night as he was constantly outmuscled on the ball for major tracts of the game by David Moses.

He did eventually grow into the game, retain possession better and even start creating chances as the game progressed. Yet, he never hit his best version and was constantly under pressure owing to the physicality and conditions.

Earned the assist for Fermin Lopez’s second goal.

Frenkie de Jong: 8.5

De Jong was the better of Barcelona’s two creative midfielders on the night and looked far more composed in possession and with his decision-making.

Did not hesitate to foray into higher areas to look for the attackers and convert defence to offence. Provided a great assist for Fermin’s first goal.

Fermin Lopez: 9

The star on the night. (Photo by Gabriel Kuchta/Getty Images)

Fermin Lopez was Barcelona’s best player in the first half by some distance as he scored both of the team’s goals in the half with great finishes.

His first goal came from a very steep angle on the right of the field from inside the box. The goalkeeper, however, had no chance given the power and precision with which he struck the ball.

Later in the half, he took a strike from outside the box to beat Jindrich Stanek once more and to give Barcelona a short-lived lead.

Raphinha: 7.5

Raphinha had a surprisingly quiet game by his standards as he did not get on the ball often, nor did he have his usual intensity in attack. His return from injury could have something to do with both.

He managed under 20 passes in the entire opening half and was relatively disconnected from the team’s buildup-play and defensive press.

Roony Bardghji: 7

The player earned a rare start given Lamine Yamal’s suspension and he did decently to generate threat on the right flank with regular crosses into the box. The team, however, could not capitalise on them.

His productivity with direct dribbles and runs into the box, however, was very limited.

Robert Lewandowski: 8

Lewandowski got his first UCL goal of the season. (Photo by Gabriel Kuchta/Getty Images)

Lewandowski was uncharacteristically silent for most of the game, and even the goal he initially scored was an own-goal off a corner to hand Slavia Prague their equaliser on the night. 

Scored his first of the season and 106th UEFA Champions League career goal with an excellent finish that tested his reflexes and flexibility to execute off Rashford’s assist.

Dani Olmo: 8

A high-impact substitute. (Photo by Gabriel Kuchta/Getty Images)

Came on at the hour mark after Pedri was injured and made an immediate impact, scoring a stunning strike from a seemingly impossible angle and distance to hand Barcelona the lead.