Fermín López said in the pre-match press conference ahead of Barça v Olympiacos that he has always felt like an important player in the Barça squad, both on the days he starts and when he comes off the bench. Against Girona, after returning from injury, he played the second half and changed the game, and against the Greek side in the Champions League, he was the standout performer with a hat-trick that he will never forget. 

Dreams can come true

From the kick off, the number 16 came out in intense fashion, raising the team’s energy levels and looking for the space left by Mendilibar’s side. The evening ended up being his best night yet as a Barça player, “a dream come true,” as he himself said after the match.

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Three goals all with his 'weaker' foot

Three goals, all scored with his left foot, his weaker one, apparently. The last Barça player to score a hat-trick with the same foot was, of course, Leo Messi, who scored three goals with his right foot back in November 2014. Coincidentally, that was also in the Champions League, in Nicosia against APOEL.

First, he picked up a cutback from Lamine Yamal, evaded the goalkeeper, and finished through a crowd of defenders to open the scoring in the 7th minute. Then, just before halftime, after Olympiacos had given the ball away in their own half, another La Masia graduate, Dro, set him up in space to control and finish coolly with his left foot again after cutting inside the defender and place the ball out of Tzolakis’ reach.

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First of his career

With two goals, it was already a spectacular evening for the midfielder but there was still more to come. In the 76th minute, Roony delivered a ball into the box and Fermín set himself perfectly to fire home with his left foot. A stunning goal from the midfielder and a celebration to match. Fermín López’s first career hat-trick, thanks to his hunger and desire to do all he can for Barça. 

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