Lamine Yamal and the Camp Nou brighten Barça's Champions League journey

BarcelonaLed by Lamine Yamal and spurred on by the Camp Nou crowd, Barça defied the cold, the wind, and an early goal from Copenhagen to qualify among the top eight teams in the Champions League group stage and avoid playing in the play-offThe Danes, accompanied by nearly 2,300 fans, didn't come to Barcelona for a stroll, and Hansi Flick's men had to come from behind once again. Lamine Yamal, who wants to win the Champions League and prove to the world that the best footballer on the planet wears the Barça colors, provided the assist for Lewandowski and scored the goal that started a comeback completed by Raphinha and Rashford (4-1). The next opponent for Barça in Europe will be one of PSG, Newcastle, Monaco, or Qarabag.

A big party at the Camp Nou, even though Barça's start was unworthy of a Champions League match. Koundé, a player who too often suffers lapses in concentration that end up costing them dearly, misjudged a pass to Eric García, the pivot against Copenhagen, which gifted Elyounoussi the ball. The opposing attacker threaded the ball behind the center-backs, who had pushed up their defensive line before Koundé's miscue, and found Dadason making a run. The Icelander, with a finish impossible for Joan Garcia to stop, broke the deadlock. A humiliating blow right from the start, with yet another goal conceded this season in the Champions League: the fourteenth in eight matches. Not even five minutes had passed and Barça were already facing the worst possible scenario.

The fans, who forgot the contemplative silence of Sunday's match against Oviedo to accompany the team on their first big European night at the new Camp Nou, spurred on the Blaugrana's attempt at an immediate comeback. Another defensive blunder, this time by the Danes, was squandered by Lewandowski, who was unable to beat Kotarski in a one-on-one situation. The Pole failed to capitalize on Suzuki's gift, a poor back pass to his goalkeeper. Kotarski would again shine with a save from Eric, and Dani Olmo would also try his luck, without success. The clearest chance, however, fell to Raphinha, who was slow to react after a good pass from Lewandowski.

It seemed that Flick's men's goal would come like ripe fruit, but they couldn't afford to let their guard down. That goalkeeper from Barça knows it well, alert to every challenge Copenhagen had to face in a fast-paced – and at times chaotic – first half where every lapse in concentration from either side could have led to trouble. Jacob Neestrup's men managed to shake off the home side's onslaught, which was reignited by a shot off the crossbar from Barça's in-form man: Eric Garcia. A piece of skillful play from the edge of the box and a colossal scramble that only the woodwork prevented from becoming the equalizer.

The reaction, after halftime

Barça were the better side, monopolizing possession and enjoying the support of their fans, although the numerous Danish supporters who had traveled to the stadium also made their presence felt. However, they lacked the final touch in the attacking third to secure a deserved equalizer. Lewandowski was next to try and level the score, but once again, Kotarski spoiled his chance. The Zagreb goalkeeper deflected the ball onto the striker's skin as he attempted to control it. This would be the last clear opportunity before halftime and the justified frustration of the home fans, as only one minute of added time was shown, despite Copenhagen having spent the entire first half wasting time since going down 1-0.

Aware that a defeat would seriously complicate their Champions League campaign, Barça came out for the second half determined to find the back of the net. They would have to do so without Eric, who was replaced by Marc Bernal at halftime because the center-back was dizzy from a blow to the head. Lamine Yamal took the team on his back, not only leading the attacks but also tirelessly winning back possession. The Barça star wants the Champions League, and his hunger was contagious. It only took the Blaugrana a couple of minutes to begin their comeback. A delightful through ball from Olmo was laid on a plate by Lamine Yamal for Lewandowski.

Copenhagen, playing for their last hopes of avoiding elimination, threatened with a shot from Jordan Larsson, Henrik Larsson's son, and a colossal save from Joan in a play that was ruled out for a clear offside. These would be Copenhagen's last attacking forays before being overwhelmed by Lamine Yamal. The winger from Rocafonda changed the scoreline with a shot that took a wicked deflection off a defender. Raphinha, from the penalty spot, made it 3-0 – and his first goal in this Champions League campaign – bringing relief to the stadium.

There was still time for another goal, from Rashford, from a direct free kick. Copenhagen thought they had scored a second, but it was disallowed after a lengthy VAR deliberation for offside. It would have been a mere footnote. Barça happily advances to the round of 16, while in Lisbon, Mourinho's Benfica knocked Real Madrid out of the top eight.