Barcelona host FC Copenhagen at Camp Nou in UEFA Champions League League Stage - 8 on 28 January 2026 (referee: B. Bastien). Barcelona arrive 9th in the overall table with 13 points and a +5 goal difference, while Copenhagen sit 26th with 8 points and a -6 goal difference.
Squad analysis: Barcelona
Barcelona’s Champions League campaign has been built on a prolific attack: 18 goals in 7 matches, averaging 2.6 per game. At Camp Nou they have scored 9 goals in 3 home fixtures, a striking 3.0 per match, helping them to 2 home wins from 3. However, defensively they remain vulnerable, conceding 13 goals (1.9 per game) and failing to keep a single clean sheet in the competition so far (0 in 7).
The standout figure is Fermín. The 22‑year‑old midfielder has 5 goals and 2 assists in 6 appearances, contributing directly to 7 of Barcelona’s 18 Champions League goals (38.9%). His 15 shots with 8 on target underline his threat from midfield, while 203 passes and 5 key passes show he also links play. Marcus Rashford adds a second major weapon: in 7 appearances he has 4 goals and 3 assists, meaning he has been involved in 7 goals as well. With 11 key passes and 21 dribble attempts (7 successful), he is both creator and finisher.
Injuries significantly reshape Barcelona’s structure. The absence of J. Cancelo (“Inactive”) removes an attacking full-back option. At centre-back, A. Christensen is out with a knee injury, weakening a defence already conceding 1.9 goals per game. The midfield is heavily hit: Gavi (knee injury), Pedri (thigh injury) and F. de Jong (suspended for yellow cards) are all missing. De Jong alone has 413 passes and 10 key passes in 7 games; losing that control increases creative and defensive responsibility on Fermín and Rashford.
Squad analysis: FC Copenhagen
Copenhagen’s group campaign has been more modest: 11 goals scored and 17 conceded in 7 matches (1.6 for and 2.4 against per game). Away from home they have struggled in both boxes, with just 3 goals scored and 8 conceded in 3 away fixtures. Overall in the competition they have 22 goals for and 18 against across 13 games, averaging 1.7 scored and 1.4 conceded, with 5 clean sheets showing they can be compact when required.
Their main goal threat is Robert, a 20‑year‑old midfielder with 4 goals in 7 appearances. He has converted 4 of 13 shots (9 on target), and his 7 key passes highlight a dual role as scorer and supplier. Mohamed Elyounoussi is the creative hub: in 9 appearances he has 2 goals and 3 assists, directly involved in 5 of Copenhagen’s 22 Champions League goals (22.7%). His 368 passes and 19 key passes, plus 22 dribble attempts (11 successful), show he is central to their ball progression.
Copenhagen’s discipline and defensive work rate are embodied by Lukas Lerager. Across 8 appearances he has 33 tackles, 15 interceptions and 4 yellow cards, underlining an aggressive midfield shield. However, they will miss Thomas Delaney, suspended after a red card; he had 186 passes and 7 tackles in 5 appearances, so his absence removes experience and ball-winning in midfield. Additional injuries to R. Huescas and M. Mattsson (both knee injuries) further thin their options, while several “Inactive” players reduce depth.
Key matchups & tactical trends
Battle 1: Fermín vs Copenhagen’s defensive block
Fermín’s 5 goals from midfield face a Copenhagen side conceding 17 goals in 7 matches (2.4 per game). Barcelona’s strongest scoring window is minutes 61–75, where they have 6 of their 18 goals (31.58%), exactly the period where Copenhagen often tire, conceding 3 of their 18 goals (16.67%) in that same band and 6 more (33.33%) in minutes 76–90. Fermín’s engine and late runs could be decisive against a defence that statistically weakens in the final half-hour.
Battle 2: Rashford & Barcelona attack vs Copenhagen’s away record
Rashford’s combined 4 goals and 3 assists meet a Copenhagen away defence that has shipped 8 goals in 3 Champions League away games (2.7 per match). Barcelona average 3.0 goals per home game in this campaign, while Copenhagen score only 1.0 away (3 goals in 3). This “high-volume” Barcelona attack versus a leaky away defence tilts the attacking edge toward the hosts.
Battle 3: Elyounoussi’s creativity vs Barcelona’s fragile back line
Elyounoussi’s 19 key passes and 3 assists target a Barcelona defence with 13 goals conceded and no clean sheets in 7 matches. Barcelona concede evenly across periods, but 3 of those 13 goals (25.00%) arrive between minutes 76–90, where Copenhagen are strongest offensively, scoring 6 of their 22 goals (27.27%) late. If Copenhagen stay in the game, Elyounoussi’s late surges and 20 fouls drawn can exploit tired legs and a back line already missing Christensen.
Discipline and intensity
Both sides carry disciplinary risk. Barcelona’s F. de Jong has already collected 3 yellow cards in 7 appearances, leading to his suspension, while Copenhagen’s Lerager has 4 yellows and Achouri 3. Copenhagen’s yellow card distribution peaks between 46–60 minutes (7 cards, 28.00%), indicating a tendency to foul more as intensity rises after half-time. Barcelona, meanwhile, have 1 red card in the 31–45 minute window, and Copenhagen also have 1 red there, suggesting potential flashpoints before the break.
Verdict
The numbers give Barcelona the offensive edge: 18 goals in 7 games, 3.0 per home match, versus Copenhagen’s 11 in 7 and just 3 away. Defensively, Copenhagen are marginally tighter overall with 18 conceded in 13 games (1.4 per match) compared to Barcelona’s 13 in 7 (1.9). If Copenhagen can survive Barcelona’s early and mid-second-half pressure, their late scoring strength offers a route back into the tie.
