Barcelona leapfrogged into an automatic Champions League qualification spot with victory in Copenhagen, but PSG faced a playoff spot.
Barcelona staged a strong second-half comeback to beat Copenhagen 4-1 at the Camp Nou and secure a top-eight spot with direct qualification for the last 16 of the Champions League.
Goals from Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, Rafinha and Marcus Rashford on Wednesday left the Catalans fifth on 16 points, level with Manchester City, Chelsea and Sporting but ahead on goal difference.
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Copenhagen gave the hosts an early shock when 17-year-old Victor Dadson scored the opener past Joan Garcia in the fourth minute, but the second half began with Barcelona fighting back.
Yamal equalized with Lewandowski in the 48th minute before scoring in the 60th minute to overwhelm Copenhagen goalkeeper Dominik Kotarski. Rafinha made it 3-1 from the penalty spot after Lewandowski was fouled, and Rashford added a fourth in the 85th minute with a free kick.
“We all came here tonight thinking about getting into the top eight. We are very happy with this win,” 18-year-old Yamal told Movistar Plus.
“When you concede a goal in the Champions League, it’s very difficult to come back, but the team was very flexible and managed to change it. The number of games we play in a season, two less games, you feel very good.”
Despite the comfortable final result, Barcelona had a disappointing first half, during which Copenhagen took a shocking lead.
Dadson stunned the home crowd after Mohamed Elyunoussi delivered a defence-splitting pass, which saw Dadson beat Barca’s high defensive line before firing a low shot past goalkeeper Garcia.
Clearly unsettled, Barcelona were futile in attack in the opening 45 minutes. Rafinha and Lewandowski spurned chances to equalise, while Eric Garcia equalized when he hit the crossbar in the 33rd minute.
In the second half, however, Barcelona underwent a complete transformation.
Just three minutes after the restart, Yamal unselfishly slotted the ball past the Copenhagen defenders on the counter-attack for Lewandowski to slot into an empty net.
The hosts gained possession and upped the tempo, trapping Copenhagen deep in their own half and Barca took the lead on the hour mark through Yamal, whose deflected shot from inside the box deflected off a stranded Kotarski and into the far corner.
Rafinha made it 3-1 from the penalty spot in the 69th minute after Lewandowski was brought down in the area in an attempt to score, and substitute Rashford wrapped up the scoring.
Although Barcelona displayed a clinical attack, questions remain about their defensive organisation. They finished the league stage without a clean sheet and finished with the worst defense among the top 13 teams.
Dembele’s penalty miss forced PSG to draw 1-1 with Newcastle
Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele had a night to forget, missing an early penalty and a golden chance from close range as defending champions Paris Saint-Germain drew 1-1 with Newcastle in the Champions League.
The draw meant both sides dropped out of the top eight in the league table and failed to automatically qualify for the last 16. Instead they will make the playoffs.
PSG were awarded an early penalty when Bradley Barco got behind the defense on the left wing with less than a minute played. After a tackle by an oncoming defender, the ball hit Barcola’s arm and then bounced off the arm of Lewis Miley behind him.
Miley looked confused, and the handball appeared to be accidental, but referee Slavko Vincic awarded the spot kick after a short video review.
Dembele aimed for the bottom right corner, but goalkeeper Nick Pope made a brilliant save. Vitina’s shot in the same corner was beaten by Pope in the eighth minute after being set up by Khvicha Kvartskhelia on the edge of the penalty area.
Dembele, who scored a total of 35 goals last season, curled the ball over the crossbar from 10 meters out in the 40th minute when he crossed from the left.
Joe Willock equalized for the visitors in first-half stoppage time and substitute Harvey Barnes missed the chance to win for the visitors with moments remaining.