Barcelona youngster leading candidate to start vs Real Madrid in Copa del Rey final ahead of Gavi, Olmo | OneFootball

Having had to fight hard for his chances in the starting lineup for Barcelona this season, Fermin Lopez is earning his place on merit.

The midfielder, who once again started this week against Borussia Dortmund, is seeing his influence grow just as the season reaches its most decisive stage.

Having started five of Barcelona’s last six matches, the La Masia youngster has used his chances well to further gain the trust of manager Hansi Flick.

Fermin Lopez to start in the Copa del Rey final?

As things stand, Fermin appears to be the leading candidate to occupy the attacking midfield role in the Copa del Rey final on 26 April, reports SPORT.

Despite a difficult start to the campaign, due to internal competition, a limited pre-season after the Olympics, and a recurring injury, Fermin remained patient, waiting for his opportunity.

Flick assured him his time would come, and it did. Two key matches proved to be turning points: against Bayern Munich at Montjuic, where he provided two assists, and vs.Valencia at the same venue, where he scored twice and assisted twice.

Fermin Lopez in line to start vs Fermin. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Getty Images)

With five goals and nine assists in just 1,500 minutes, averaging a direct goal contribution every 107 minutes, Fermin is proving in his second top-flight season that he is a major attacking threat from midfield.

In Dortmund, even though he did not find the net, he created Barcelona’s only goal and had two further shots on target.

His mobile, dynamic presence between the lines is valued by Flick, who earlier in the season had to privately reassure the starlet during periods of frustration over his limited game time.

Now hitting his best form of the season, Fermin’s chances of starting in the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid are increasing rapidly. Notably, he was also selected to start in the first league El Clasico earlier in the season.

Ahead of Olmo and Gavi

While Dani Olmo would typically be expected to start based on seniority, the midfielder is unlikely to be fully fit for the final, and Flick may once again choose to use the former Leipzig player as a second-half option, as he has done often this season.

Another contender for the central attacking midfield role is Gavi, but the German coach has publicly stated that he prefers using the Spaniard as a No. 6 or a No. 8. Furthermore, Fermin’s current form has outshone that of his teammates.