Coach Hansi Flick needs a win and several goals to automatically clinch a place in the top eight of the Champions League and knows Barcelona will have to be at their best against Copenhagen on Wednesday.
Barcelona are ninth ahead of the final round of the league stage, with the same thirteen points as seven other teams, including Chelsea in eighth, Newcastle in seventh and Paris Saint-Germain in sixth.
“We only focus on ourselves and what we have in our hands,” Flick said Tuesday. «That’s a good way to approach it. It will be a tough match against Copenhagen, where a lot is at stake. We can never make excuses. That is our philosophy… we are confident in our style, in the way we play, and this is the Champions League. We will have to show our best level.»
The goal difference will probably be decisive for the teams that finish on equal terms. The top eight automatically qualify for the round of 16, while those ranked ninth through 24th must play an additional playoff round.
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“We have to take it step by step,” Flick said. «We have to play this match with respect for Copenhagen because they have a fantastic team. We will have to defend very well, try to keep a clean sheet and score goals to win.»
«We are very confident and I hope we can win to qualify for the next round. The most important thing is to do a good job and play at our highest level.»
Flick said he was confident because Barcelona were going through “a good moment” and were “in a good situation.” The Catalan club have won 13 of their last 14 matches in all competitions and scored 18 goals in their last six games.
Barcelona have scored 26 goals in their last 27 Champions League matches, and none of their last 42 European matches have ended goalless.
Flick said striker Ferran Torres is expected to be available after a muscle injury, but playmaker Pedri will remain absent due to a hamstring problem. Midfielder Frenkie de Jong is out due to suspension.
Barcelona will face 28-year-old Jordan Larsson, son of former striker Henrik Larsson, who won the Champions League with the Spanish club in 2006. He is the top scorer in all competitions for the Danes this season.
Copenhagen, who still have hopes of finishing in the top 24, are unbeaten in their last three Champions League games, equaling the longest streak without defeat in the competition. It could become the first Danish club to record fifty wins in the history of the European Cup and the Champions League.
Barcelona signed Roony Bardghji from Copenhagen last year. The 20-year-old midfielder scored 15 goals in 84 games for the Danish club. This season he has two goals.
Published on January 27, 2026
