Flick: Barcelona must aim to hit their potential to seal Champions League progress

Hansi Flick wants his Barcelona team to fulfil their potential as they aim to secure their spot in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Barca take on FC Copenhagen on Wednesday, knowing a win should be enough to see them finish in the top eight and automatically secure a place in the knockouts.

The Blaugrana sit ninth, as one of a glut of teams on 13 points heading into the final round of the league phase.

And Flick wants to see his team tun on the style.

“I hope the team feels good and confident. We have to respect Copenhagen,” he said.

“The most important thing is that we do our job, and we’ll have to play at our best. It won’t be an easy match. The goal is to qualify in the top eight.

“We’re focused on our own game, on what’s at hand. We have a tough match. We won’t make excuses, and we’re eager and confident.

“We’re confident in our style, in how we play. This is the Champions League, and it’s about reaching our full potential.”

Hansi Flick speaking about the team pic.twitter.com/9gWYBPBKD1

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 27, 2026

Barca will have to do the job without key midfielders Frenkie de Jong and Pedri, who are absent due to suspension and injury, respectively.

However, Fermin Lopez is in fantastic form. He has scored five goals in six Champions League games for Barcelona this season. Only one Spanish player has netted more in a single edition for them in the competition: Luis Enrique in 1999-2000 (six).

“He’s a great player in several positions,” Flick said of Fermin.

“His mentality in every match is excellent. He’s also very good with the ball, and I’m happy he’s staying longer. When players come up from La Masia to the first team, it’s perfect. I think he enjoys every day.”

Barca have averaged 2.9 goals under Hansi Flick in the Champions League (61 in 21 games).

The only team/coach combination (minimum 10 games) with a higher goals-per-game ratio in the competition is Flick’s Bayern Munich (3.2 – 57 goals in 18 matches).