Ahead of Tuesday’s game, Pep Guardiola has insisted that Copenhagen will pose a very different threat from Seville: “it’s a different competition and a completely different game – we`ll have to put in a very good performance”.
Messi missed the trip to Ceuta in midweek and he stressed the importance of a week of training at the Ciutat Esportiva for a number of the senior players: “it’s been a good week for working out and recovering our physical fitness”, he explained to the Barça TV programme” El Marcador”, after the game against Seville.
FC Barcelona have beaten Copenhagen 2-0 and thus leap to the top of Champions League Group D. Messi scored a goal in each half.
Xavi Hernàndez will be rested this weekend for the game against Zaragoza and will therefore be able to assist at the ceremony of presentation of the Premis Príncep d'Astúries in Oviedo.
Wednesday night saw Javier Mascherano back to his best as he dominated the middle of the park, both in attack and defence, putting an end to the run of games in which he’d not yet won a game as a member of the starting 11 with Barça.
Josep Guardiola believes that FC Barcelona will start to convert the chances that they create in every game after seeing his side have to wait until the 92nd minute to net a second goal against FC Copenhagen on Wednesday evening.
Leo Messi has scored his 31st international goal for Barça, thus equalling the record set by Rivaldo. He also ties Alcántara as the fifth highest scorer in club history.