Copenhagen travel to Barcelona fully aware of what awaited them.
Facing a confident Blaugrana side at home, the Danish champions know that Barcelona will not ease into the contest.
This is because Barcelona will look to dominate, control the game, and push hard for a convincing win.
That reality has not been lost on the Copenhagen camp, who have openly acknowledged the quality they are about to face.
One of the players who spoke honestly about the threat posed by Barcelona is Mohamed Elyounoussi, one of Copenhagen’s most influential figures.
Praise for Lamine and Roony
Asked about Lamine Yamal and the problems he could cause, the winger did not hold back in his assessment.
Elyounoussi praised the youngster’s development and impact at the highest level, saying, “[He is] one of the best in the world.”
He then went into further detail about why Lamine will be such a tough opponent to deal with, especially for Copenhagen’s defensive line. Elyounoussi added:
“He has improved a lot. He’s not just good one-on-one. He creates great chances, he has a great final pass. He will be a big challenge for our full-back.”
Beyond the immediate threat of Barcelona’s attacking stars, there is also an emotional subplot for the visitors.
Copenhagen could come face-to-face with former teammate Roony Bardghji, whose progress has not gone unnoticed.
Elyounoussi shared his personal thoughts on meeting Bardghji again, mixing praise with humour as he looked ahead to the contest. He joked,
“I’m looking forward to seeing him, but I won’t let him score any goals,” he said.
A former Blaugrana
Jordan Larsson, Copenhagen player
Jordan Larsson played for the Barcelona youth team. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Another player Barcelona will be keeping a close watch on is Jordan Larsson. His story adds a special layer to the occasion.
As a child, Larsson spent two seasons wearing Barcelona colours at the club’s academy, Barcelona Escola, while his father played for the first team.
Nearly two decades later, he returns as one of Copenhagen’s key attacking players.
Speaking about the magnitude of the challenge, Larsson made his admiration for Barcelona very clear. He said:
“For me, Barcelona is the best team in the world, so it will be a huge task, but we are looking forward to it tomorrow,” he began.
Larsson then reflected on the personal significance of playing in Barcelona, calling it a childhood dream fulfilled. He explained:
“For me, it is a dream come true to play at Camp Nou. Of course, when I was a little boy, I dreamed of playing for Barcelona.
“To go in there and play, especially since I was there when I was little and saw my dad play… I spent a number of years there.
“It’s obviously a good feeling to be back, but yes, when the game starts, the focus will be entirely on doing my job and giving everything for Copenhagen.”
Copenhagen will give a strong fight
Despite his admiration, Larsson made it clear that Copenhagen are not travelling simply to admire the occasion. He stressed their competitive mindset, stating,
“In my opinion, they are the best team in the world. And we, yes, we will come to fight for a result, that’s the plan.
“We will go with all our strength to do everything we can to get a result.
“They have many strengths, but they also have many weaknesses, and that’s what we have to exploit as much as possible.”
Source: Mundo Deportivo