Fermín López turned the tide against Girona after coming on at half-time. The midfielder, back from injury, played the entire second half at an impressive level, injecting pace and energy into the game and showing that his physical problems are now firmly behind him.

Not any old week

His return comes at a crucial moment, with the third Champions League fixture against Olympiacos up next and El Clásico looming at the weekend. For Fermín, “it’s a really special week because we’ve got two huge games.”

Looking ahead to Tuesday’s visit of the Greek side to the Estadi Olimpic, he knows what’s at stake: “It’ll be a tough match, it’s the Champions League, after all. We’re coming off a defeat to PSG and we need to play well, get back into our rhythm and win.”

Role and fitness

On his place in the team, Fermín was clear: “I’ve always felt like an important player, whether I start or come off the bench. I play when the coach decides and always try to give my best for the team.”

As for his condition, he had reassuring words: “Physically I feel good. I was able to play 45 minutes and I’m ready to start if the manager thinks it’s right.”

Getting form back

On a collective level, he knows there’s still room for improvement. “It’s a process" explained. "Maybe we’re not feeling as sharp as we’d like to be, but there’s a long way to go and a lot of football still to play. We’re eager to keep improving and working hard. And over the next few weeks we’ll get back to our best, for sure.”

More news here