There are moments in every Champions League campaign when one player rises above the rest, and for Barcelona this season, that player is unquestionably Fermin Lopez.
The 22-year-old La Masia graduate is not just enjoying a good run of form, he is operating at a level that very few midfielders in Europe can match right now.
With a crucial quarter-final clash against Atletico Madrid approaching, all eyes are on a player who has become the heartbeat of Hansi Flick’s system.
A Champions League master
Simply put, Fermin’s Champions League journey this season began in emphatic fashion.
Back on Matchday 3 of the group stage, against Olympiacos, he scored a sensational hat-trick in a dominant 6-1 victory.
He followed that up with another influential display against Club Brugge, providing two assists.
While in the matches against Chelsea and Eintracht Frankfurt he did not see him add to his tally, what followed next was a sight to behold.
Fermin Lopez, Barcelona player
Fermin Lopez is playing on another level. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Getty Images)
Against Sparta Prague, Fermin scored twice in a 4-2 win. Next, while facing FC Copenhagen, the midfielder added another assist.
Ultimately, in the knockout rounds, his influence only grew. While he was relatively quiet in the away leg against Newcastle United, the return fixture at the Spotify Camp Nou saw him take centre stage once again.
He provided a key assist for Raphinha to open the scoring before adding a goal of his own to cap off a dominant performance.
As a result, Fermin has featured in nine matches in the Champions League this season and has contributed six goals and four assists.
He is currently Barcelona’s leading scorer in the competition, while also sitting joint-top in assists within the squad.
Now, as Atlético Madrid loom, Barcelona know exactly where their biggest threat lies.