Fermín López assumes an expanded role in Barcelona’s attacking midfield following an injury to Dani Olmo, stepping into uninterrupted playing time beginning with Sunday’s Clásico, MARCA reported.

Fermín Steps Into Uninterrupted Minutes Ahead of Clásico

Dani Olmo’s recent injury setback has reshaped Barcelona’s midfield rotation, elevating Fermín from a shared attacking midfield role into a primary option who is expected to play nearly every minute until the next international break. Up to this point in the campaign, both players split minutes in the central attacking berth. Now, manager Hansi Flick turns heavily to Fermín, starting with Sunday’s high-stakes league fixture against Real Madrid.

Fermín Dismisses Favorites and Refereeing Controversy

Speaking to Teledeporte ahead of the weekend fixture, Fermín dismissed any notion of pre-match favorites and addressed persistent complaints from Real Madrid regarding match officials. In a match of this type there are no favorites, anyone can win, Fermín said on Teledeporte. We are two great teams and we have to be focused on playing our game and controlling our emotions and small details.

Addressing the ongoing discussions surrounding refereeing decisions voiced from the capital, the midfielder stated that the squad remains detached from the controversy. This discourse is starting to get a bit tiring, because on the pitch we are demonstrating the level that we have, Fermín told Teledeporte. It is not fair to enter into that discourse when things are going well for us, but I don’t like to get into that controversy, nor does anyone in the squad. We have to follow our path and if they want to enter into that discourse it is because it is going well for them.

Evaluating the Threat Posed by Courtois and Mbappé

Asked which opposing players he would remove from the pitch if given the choice, Fermín pointed directly to Real Madrid’s Belgian goalkeeper and French forward. Courtois gives you a lot of points, he makes a lot of saves, and Mbappé is differential, so if I could I would remove them both, Fermín said. But Madrid have very good players and we have to control all of them as a team.