Yamal grateful for additional rest as Barcelona skip Champions League play-offs

Lamine Yamal said skipping the Champions League play-offs will be a major boost for Barcelona’s season, after he scored to help them beat Copenhagen 4-1 and reach the last 16 on Wednesday.

The Blaugrana – who endured a slow start to their league-stage campaign – finished fifth in the 36-team standings after a blistering second-half performance at Camp Nou.

Hansi Flick’s team trailed to Viktor Dadason’s fourth-minute strike, but Robert Lewandowski, Yamal, Raphinha and Marcus Rashford – with a lovely free-kick – were on target in the second half.

Yamal both scored and assisted in a Champions League game for the third time in his career; the joint-most by a teenager in the competition, along with Kylian Mbappe.

Yamal’s eight Champions League assists, meanwhile, are now the outright most by any teenager in the competition’s history, overtaking Mbappe (seven).

Speaking after the game, Yamal said: “We all came here tonight thinking about getting into the top eight. We’re very happy with the victory.

“When you concede a goal in the Champions League it’s very difficult to come back, but the team was very strong, and we managed to come back.

“In the Champions League I’m freer, though I’m still one against two. I’m getting used to it, it is what it is. When I can give the team an advantage, I’m also happy.

“With the games we have, having two games fewer leaves you very calm.”

3 – Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal