Marcus Rashford (29, Barcelona) secured FC Barcelona's direct qualification to the UEFA Champions League round of 16.
British outlet BBC reported on the 29th (Korean time) that "loan player Marcus Rashford came on as a substitute and scored from a free kick to decide Barcelona's entry into the top eight."
Barcelona beat Copenhagen 4-1 in the final match of the 2025-2026 UEFA Champions League league phase held the same day. With this victory, Barcelona finished fifth and advanced directly to the round of 16 without a playoff. Copenhagen finished 31st in the tournament.
Barcelona looked shaky early in the match. In the fourth minute of the first half, after losing the ball near the halfway line, they conceded the opening goal to 17-year-old forward Victor Dadaşon, who received a penetrating pass from Mohammed El-Yunushi. BBC reported, "Barcelona attempted many shots throughout the first half but failed to score, and for the fifth time this season in the Champions League they continued the match trailing at halftime."
The momentum changed at the start of the second half. In the third minute of the second half, Robert Lewandowski received a pass from Lamine Yamal and scored an equalizer from close range. It was Lewandowski's 107th career goal in the Champions League.
After that, Yamal's long-range shot deflected off a defender and resulted in a go-ahead goal, and Raphinha converted the penalty won by Lewandowski to increase the margin.
The insurance goal was scored by Rashford. Rashford, brought on as a second-half substitute, rattled the net with a free kick about 10 minutes later. BBC reported, "Rashford's goal was his fifth of the tournament and was the score that confirmed Barcelona's entry into the top eight."
Copenhagen did hit the net once late in the game, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Barcelona regained control in the second half and closed out the match.
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