Barcelona vie with Copenhagen for UEFA top spot

Spanish champions Barcelona hope to make home advantage count when they host FC Copenhagen at Camp Nou on Wednesday bidding to wrestle top spot in Champions League Group D from the surprise Danish leaders.

Barcelona are buoyed by a 2-1 comeback win over Valencia on Saturday and the 2009 winners now turn their attention to Europe knowing a win over unbeaten Copenhagen would move them above the Danes into top spot.

Copenhagen have won both of their opening group games without conceding a goal to stand two points ahead of Barcelona who have four points after drawing 1-1 with Russians Rubin Kazan in their last outing.

Barcelona had been shaky at home in the league but turned in a mesmerising second half to defeat title rivals Valencia thanks to goals from Andres Iniesta and Carles Puyol and leave coach Pep Guardiola a happy man.

“In football a lot is the mental side,” said Guardiola. “Nobody can doubt these players and they have shown why again (against Valencia).

“It was a big step forward and winning this type of game gives you great strength. I thought we did very well.”

Spanish World Cup star Xavi returned from injury and played a hand in both goals but the gifted midfielder could be rested against Copenhagen as he is still struggling with the tendonitis that ruled him out of Spain’s last two Euro 2012 qualifiers.

“I am well, but the truth is I still feel slight pain,” admitted Xavi.

“I expect to recover soon. I started well enough but as the minutes went by I felt the tendon begin to strain slightly. I need to go little by little and be patient.”

Another midfield worry for Barca is Mali international Seydou Keita who was forced off late in the Valencia win with a groin strain.

Barcelona thumped Panathinaikos 5-1 in their first European game but have found goals hard to come by in front of their own fans with four from four matches in the league as they continue to spurn chances.

Against Valencia David Villa was particularly wasteful in front of goal but the Spanish star, now his country’s joint all-time leading scorer with 44 goals, has scored in each of Barcaelona’s Champions League matches and hopes to take out his frustration on Copenhagen.

Captain Puyol believes the lack of goals is not a major concern for the three-time European champions as they are creating so many chances.

“We have missed chances but the important thing is to create them,” said Puyol. “We have top quality players and the goals will come. We’re not worried.”

Barcelona have never lost to Danish opposition in European fixtures with five wins and a draw and begin as strong favourites to inflict a first Champions League defeat of the campaign on Copenhagen.

The capital club’s most prominent player is speedy Danish international winger Jesper Gronkjaer, 33, who played for Ajax, Chelsea and Atletico Madrid before returning to his homeland in 2006.

Copenhagen’s maiden campaign in the Champions League was back in the 2006/07 season and proved forgettable as they lost all their away games and finished bottom of a group containing Manchester United, Celtic and Benfica, however, on this occasion they have a great chance of making the knockout phase for the first time in their history.

Senegalese forward Dame N’Doye has netted in both of Copenhagen’s wins over Rubin Kazan and Panathinaikos and believes his side could upset the mighty Barcelona if they can keep it tight at the back and wait for a chance on the counter attack.

“If we play against Barcelona like we usually play then we have a chance of getting a positive result,” said N’Doye.

“The important thing will again be to stop them from scoring and if we can do that and get a goal on the break then we will have a great chance of winning.”