"Barcelona have secured an automatic spot in the Champions League Round of 16 thanks to a 4-1 win over Copenhagen in Wednesday's league phase finale at Camp Nou. After a dreadful first half in which they conceded early and played very poorly the Blaugrana came alive in the final period, dominating the game and scoring enough goals to boost their goal difference and clinch fifth place in the standings at the end of a wild night of action around Europe."
"The game started the worst possible way for Barça, but it was also very predictable: Copenhagen played a through ball in between the Blaugrana center-backs to beat the offside trap, and Dadason was all alone with Joan Garcia and scored the opener. It was the type of goal Barça always concede in Europe, and it was extremely frustrating to watch."
"What was even more frustrating, however, was the Catalans' attempt at an answer: Barça were very poor in possession, lacking any creativity and real threat in the final third to try and find spaces against a Copenhagen side that parked the bus and played a 5-4-1 formation designed entirely to not concede. Barça were slow and safe with their passing, and resorted to one cross after another that never troubled the opposition."
Barcelona fell behind early after Copenhagen exploited a through ball that beat the offside trap and allowed Dadason to score. The first half saw Barcelona struggle in possession, lacking creativity and relying on ineffective crosses against a compact 5-4-1 Copenhagen. The only clear chances were a missed one-on-one by Robert Lewandowski and an Eric Garcia shot that hit the crossbar. Players spent time complaining to the referee instead of finding answers. Hansi Flick made a halftime substitution, bringing Marc Bernal on for Eric Garcia, and Barcelona dominated the final period to overturn the deficit and secure qualification.
Read at Barca Blaugranes
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