Barcelona's Fermin Lopez Shares Unexpected Gift from Manager Hansi Flick After Newcastle Rout

The young midfielder played a key role in Barcelona's 7-2 demolition of Newcastle United.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 7:20am

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Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez revealed that manager Hansi Flick rewarded the team with a day off after their stunning 7-2 victory over Newcastle United. Lopez, who scored, assisted, and won a crucial penalty in the match, discussed the challenges the team faced early on, the tactical adjustments that led to their second-half turnaround, and the possibility of facing Atletico Madrid in the next stage, emphasizing respect over revenge.

Why it matters

Fermin Lopez's performance and Flick's gesture highlight the strong team dynamic and the manager's ability to motivate his players, even after a dominant win. The team's desire to keep improving despite the lopsided result suggests a winning mentality that could serve them well in future matches.

The details

Barcelona's 7-2 victory over Newcastle United was a night of attacking brilliance, with Fermin Lopez at the heart of it. The young midfielder delivered one of his most complete performances, scoring, assisting, and winning a crucial penalty that shifted the momentum of the game. Despite the emphatic nature of the result, Lopez acknowledged the challenges the team faced early on, with Newcastle's aggressive pressing disrupting Barça's rhythm in the first half. However, tactical adjustments in the second half, including Flick's instructions for Lopez to help with the build-up, allowed the team to take control and secure the dominant win.

  • Barcelona's stunning 7-2 demolition of Newcastle United took place on March 19, 2026.

The players

Fermin Lopez

A young Barcelona midfielder who played a key role in the team's 7-2 victory over Newcastle United, scoring, assisting, and winning a crucial penalty.

Hansi Flick

The manager of Barcelona, who rewarded the team with a day off after their dominant win over Newcastle United.

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What they’re saying

“He gave us a day off.”

— Fermin Lopez, Barcelona Midfielder

“They put a lot of pressure on us in the first half; we lost too many balls, although we also created chances. In the second half, we were more in control.”

— Fermin Lopez, Barcelona Midfielder

“It feels good to have scored seven goals, even though we conceded two. There are always things we need to improve.”

— Fermin Lopez, Barcelona Midfielder

“Flick asked me to help with the build-up because they were marking us man-to-man. If we got past that line of pressure, we could attack the space, which is what I tried to do. It worked out well, and we were able to play a great game.”

— Fermin Lopez, Barcelona Midfielder

“There's no desire for revenge. Atleti is a great team; they'll surely make it very difficult for us. They already knocked us out of the Cup; we know what they're capable of. We have to learn from what happened to us. Play a great tie and hopefully advance.”

— Fermin Lopez, Barcelona Midfielder

What’s next

Barcelona could face Atletico Madrid in the next stage, a team that has already caused them problems this season.

The takeaway

Fermin Lopez's performance and Hansi Flick's gesture of rewarding the team with a day off after their dominant win over Newcastle United highlight the strong team dynamic and the manager's ability to motivate his players, even after a lopsided victory. The team's desire to keep improving despite the emphatic result suggests a winning mentality that could serve them well in future matches.