Fermin Lopez's hat-trick, Marcus Rashford's double and Lamine Yamal's goal helped La Liga champions crush Olympiacos 6-1 in the third round of the Champions League.
This victory will give Hansi Flick and his team more confidence ahead of El Clasico against Real Madrid at the weekend.
4 goals in the last 25 minutes - after Olympiacos were reduced to just 10 men - ended a brilliant night at Montjuic. Flick has reason to be satisfied as his team continues to show impressive attacking form, aiming to extend the streak of 5 consecutive wins against Real Madrid under his reign.
There are many positive signals for Barca. Fermin Lopez, returning from a muscle injury and being placed in the starting lineup, has shown excellent form with the ability to finish coldly. His second and third goals were taken extremely delicately, and his hat-trick could have come sooner if Yamal's header from the pass had not gone just wide of the post.
"I am really happy, we need a victory like this. It was a great feeling and now we can focus on El Clasico. On top of that, I had my first hat-trick in my career, and it was great to bring the ball with the signatures of all my teammates home" - Fermin Lopez said after the match.
Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford has done an excellent job as the number 9 in the absence of Robert Lewandowski. At the end of the match, he scored a beautiful second goal with a long shot from the edge of the penalty area, before showing a series of confident dribbling skills.
The English striker now has five goals and five assists in 12 games, more than any other Barca player this season. "When he is more confident and understands his teammates better, Rashford will play even better," Flick commented at the post-match press conference.
Barcelona clearly need such an overwhelming victory. After 2 consecutive defeats, the Catalan team only won a hard-fought victory over Girona last weekend, causing public to begin to doubt their form against El Clasico.
Flick frankly admitted that the Blaugrana have not yet regained their best form that helped them win the domestic treble last season. He wanted the team to attack more strongly and press more aggressively, and said that Raphinha's injury had affected his tactics.
"Every victory gives us more confidence. For us, today's victory is not only important in the result, but also in the way we perform. The fact that the whole team scored 6 goals is a very positive signal" - the Barcelona captain added.
The German coach hopes this excitement will continue to be maintained before the El Clasico, when Barcelona visit Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu. He also believes that Raphinha and Ferran Torres can return from injury in time to increase options for the attack. A victory in Madrid will help Barca rise to the top of La Liga.
"I always think positively. Of course we can win in Madrid. We have a quality squad, and we will probably welcome the return of two key players.
Today's 6-1 victory gives us great confidence ahead of El Clasico. And now the whole team has time to recover as well as prepare carefully for the upcoming away trip" - Flick said.
