Fermin Lopez scored twice as Barcelona beat Slavia Prague to boost their chances of moving straight into the last 16 of the Champions League.

In temperatures of -6C, the hosts took a 10th-minute lead after Tomas Holes flicked on a corner and Vasil Kusej bundled the ball over the line from close range.

Lopez scored his first goal in the 34th minute with a fierce shot that went in past goalkeeper Jindrich Stanek at his near post, before Lopez made it 2-1 eight minutes later with a fine curled effort.

Slavia Prague needed a win to stay in the competition and it became 2-2 just before half-time when Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski saw the ball bounce off his shoulder and into his own net following a right-wing corner.

But Barcelona, without the suspended Lamine Yamal, dominated the second half.

Barca boss Hansi Flick brought on England forward Marcus Rashford and Dani Olmo just after the hour mark and both made important contributions.

Olmo scored three minutes after coming on with a superb 18-yard strike into the top corner to restore the Spanish side's lead before Rashford set up Lewandowski, with the Poland international hooking in Barca's fourth after the ball had bounced up off his thigh.

The result meant Slavia Prague, with only three points from seven matches, were eliminated with a game to spare.

Meanwhile, five-time European champions Barcelona, who reached the semi-finals last season, are up to ninth in the table.

They will need to win at home against Copenhagen next Wednesday and hope results go their way if they are to finish in the top eight and avoid a two-legged play-off in February.

Barcelona won the Spanish Super Cup earlier this month and are still on course for a quadruple as they are also top of La Liga and in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey. (BBC Sports)

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