Page 58 - Soccer360 Issue 104

LA LIGA SPOTLIGHT
“FERMIN LOPEZ’ EYE FOR GOAL AND MOVEMENT OFF THE BALL IS EXACTLY WHAT XAVI IS LOOKING FOR.”
giants were quick to tie him into a contract until 2026 with a buyout clause of €1bn.
FERMIN LOPEZ
Barcelona has the youth academies of Recreativo Huelva and Real Betis to thank for the early guidance of right-footed central midfielder Fermin Lopez. The now 20-year-old joined La Masia in
the summer of 2016 and developed quickly under Barca’s leadership.
Despite impressing, the Catalan hierarchy sent Lopez out on loan last season to Spanish third tier side Linares. He made an immediate impact and played a vital role in helping Linares finish sixth
in the league after scoring 12 goals in 37 league
appearances. Unsurprisingly he was called up to train with the Barcelona first team in the summer and scored and got an assist in a pre-season friendly victory over rivals Real Madrid. He was then quick to make his La Liga debut coming on in the 4-3 win over Villarreal.
As we have seen with Lasine Yamal and Gavi, when a player shows potential, they are quick to tie them down with Lopez only recently having signed a contract with the club until the summer of 2027.
A promising player with a bright future ahead of him, he will continue to come under the spotlight in Catalonia this season but his eye for goal and movement off the ball is exactly what Xavi is looking for.
Thibaut Courtois for Real Madrid
DID YOU KNOW ?
Real Madrid’s striker Vinicius Junior celebrates
Fermin Lopez has broken into the Barca first-team in 2023-24
Real Madrid’s midfielder Eduardo Camavinga (L) duels
for the ball with Getafe’s defender Djene Dakonam (R)
Antoinne Griezmann looks to push his club past Real Madrid this season
56 SOCCER360
PENALTY STOPPERS
As of November 27, Real Madrid goalkeepers have saved three of their last four UEFA Champions League penalties (two by Thibaut Courtois and one by Andriy Lunin) after failing to save any of their previous 19 (excluding shootouts).
GOAL AND ASSISTED
Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo both scored and assisted in the same game for Real Madrid for the first time in all competitions during Real Madrid’s 3-0 win against Braga in the Champion’s League Group Stages.
SEVEN
Seven goals have been scored in a La Liga duel between Athletic Bilbao and Celta Vigo for the
6th time in the history of the competition, the first since March 2002 (1-6 to Vigo) and the fifth to finish on the Bilbao side.
SEVEN REDS
Getafe defender Djené Dakonam has received seven red cards since the 2017/18 season, which is the highest in the top five European leagues.