Hansi Flick has Barcelona luxury after Fermin Lopez and Dani Olmo impress

Hansi Flick has been presented with a difficult selection decision at Barcelona after Fermin Lopez and Dani Olmo both made significant contributions in the club’s 5-0 La Liga victory over Valencia on Sunday.

Fermin was selected to start the match and justified his inclusion by scoring one goal and providing two assists. Olmo replaced him in the 75th minute and also created two goals for his team-mates, ensuring that both players had a direct influence on a commanding Barcelona performance.

The contrasting roles of the two players were central to the question put to Barcelona head coach Flick, who was asked about the challenge of choosing between Fermin and Olmo.

Barcelona’s emphatic win over Valencia means they remain top of the La Liga table with 12 points from their opening four matches. The result also highlighted the quality available to Flick in the competition for selection, with Fermin making his mark from the start before Olmo continued the contest after coming off the bench.

Fermin’s contribution was particularly notable because he combined a goal with two assists before being replaced. Olmo matched his creative output despite having less time on the pitch, supplying two assists after entering the game during the latter stages.

That sequence leaves Flick with two players who produced decisive moments in the same match, although in different circumstances. Fermin helped establish Barcelona’s control as part of the starting line-up, while Olmo added further attacking impact after Valencia had already been placed under pressure.

The result itself was Barcelona’s fourth victory in four league matches, giving them a maximum 12 points and the lead in the standings. The scoreline also provided a clear illustration of the team’s effectiveness in attack, with both Fermin and Olmo involved in the five-goal success.

Flick’s comments came after a match in which the selection issue became especially difficult to ignore. Fermin delivered a goal and two assists from the beginning, while Olmo responded with two assists of his own after replacing him.

For Barcelona, the immediate outcome was a comprehensive win and continued leadership of La Liga. For Flick, the performance created a demanding choice over which of the two players should take priority in future games.

The competition between Fermin and Olmo is therefore already an important selection topic at Barcelona. Both contributed directly to the victory against Valencia, leaving Flick to weigh the value of Fermin’s starting impact against Olmo’s influence as a substitute.