“Rashford shines and Barcelona turns the game around to secure the round of 16.”

In an exciting Champions League night, Spanish giants Barcelona turned things around to secure their direct passage to the knockout stage, with a convincing victory over Copenhagen. The standout of the match was Marcus Rashford, the forward on loan from Manchester United, who not only scored a decisive goal with a magnificent free kick but also solidified his position as one of the tournament’s top scorers, reaching five goals in this edition.

The match started surprisingly, with Copenhagen taking the lead just four minutes in. Mohamed Elyounoussi made a brilliant play by diverting the ball to young Viktor Dadason, who did not hesitate to finish and put the Danish team ahead. The first half was a challenge for the Catalans, who, despite dominating possession and creating several opportunities, failed to find the back of the net, ending the first half trailing for the fifth time in this Champions League campaign.

However, the second half brought a turnaround. Just three minutes after the restart, prodigy Lamine Yamal, at only 17 years old, assisted Robert Lewandowski, who had no trouble equalizing the score, thus achieving his impressive 107th goal in the Champions League. The young talent did not stop there and, in an individual play, found the back of the net with a shot that took a crucial deflection.

The pressure from Barcelona did not wane and, after a foul on Lewandowski, Raphinha, the team’s captain, displayed composure by converting the penalty, putting the team ahead. To seal the victory, Rashford, who came on as a substitute, did what he does best by scoring, ensuring a comfortable win and consolidating Barcelona’s position as leaders of La Liga.

Meanwhile, Copenhagen saw a late goal disallowed for offside, feeling the frustration of failing to secure a positive result after such a promising start. The Danish team finished the match disappointed, unable to secure a spot in the competition’s playoffs.

Football fans will be able to watch highlights from each Champions League match starting at 10:00 PM on Wednesday, on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app. Additionally, there will be a special edition of Match of the Day dedicated to the Champions League on BBC One, from 10:40 PM to midnight.