In a thoroughly dominant display at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Barcelona demolished Olympiacos 6–1 on Tuesday, reclaiming confidence and sending a strong message in their 2025–26 UEFA Champions League campaign. The Greek visitors arrived with hope, but what unfolded was a night where Barcelona’s attacking teeth were bared and their momentum restored ahead of bigger tests to come.
From the opening whistle, Barcelona set the tone. Just seven minutes in, young forward Fermín López pounced. A loose ball following an effort from Lamine Yamal was swept home by López with lightning intent, signalling the home side’s determination to seize control.
Olympiacos tried to stay compact early on, but the pressure was relentless, and Barcelona deserved their early lead.
As the first half progressed, Barcelona’s dominance became clearer. They controlled over 70 percent of the possession, limited Olympiacos’ chances, and looked sharp in transition.
With 38 minutes gone, López doubled his tally, finishing off a quick counter-attack that exposed the visitors’ high line and inability to manage Barcelona’s dynamic movement. At half-time, Barcelona led 2–0 and looked comfortable.
Olympiacos needed a spark, and in the early stages of the second half they seemed to find one. Having trailed by two, they won a penalty in the 53rd minute: an infringement in the buildup led to a spot-kick, which Ayoub El Kaabi calmly converted to make it 2–1.
That moment offered a glimmer of hope for the visitors and suggested they might claw their way back.
However, just four minutes later the match shifted decisively when Olympiacos were reduced to 10 men after Santiago Hezze received a second yellow card. The bewilderment among the Greek players and staff was palpable – many felt the decision was harsh, and even the coach voiced his displeasure postgame.
That dismissal gave Barcelona the numerical advantage and the space to exploit the defence with real intent.
With the match opening up, Barcelona quickly capitalised. In the 68th minute, Yamal stepped up to convert a penalty awarded following a foul on Marcus Rashford, who had already caused problems down the flank.
The goal pushed the lead beyond reach and effectively removed any lingering doubt about the outcome.
Rashford, lively and incisive, added to the tally shortly after. In the 74th minute he seized a loose ball after a Barcelona attack, slotting it home to make it 4–1. Two minutes later, López completed his hat-trick, becoming the first Spanish player in Barcelona’s Champions League history to score three goals in a single match.
His finish was a composed conclusion of a fast break, marking a milestone for the young Catalan forward. The cherry on top arrived in the 79th minute when Rashford again took advantage of space, cut inside, and clipped a low shot into the corner to make it 6–1, rounding off a humiliating night for Olympiacos.
Beyond the goals, the statistics underline how thoroughly Barcelona dominated. They recorded 14 shots to Olympiacos’ five, had seven efforts on target to their opponent’s two, enjoyed 72 percent of the ball, and earned seven corners to the visitors’ two.
Olympiacos offered little in response once their numbers were down and their structure broken; the gulf in quality and energy was clear.
From Barcelona, this victory was not just about the goals but about reasserting their identity. Under Hansi Flick, the side had experienced a mixed start in the group phase, and this kind of emphatic win was exactly what they needed.
For Olympiacos, this one will sit heavy. Despite arriving with European experience – the club had won the 2024 UEFA Europa Conference League just a few months ago – they were out-matched in every sense.