Barcelona's Unlikely Star Sparks Stunning Comeback Victory Against Eintracht Frankfurt

Barcelona staged their third consecutive comeback victory, securing a crucial 2-1 triumph against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

An early goal from Ansgar Knauff put Barcelona behind at the interval, marking just the second occasion during Hansi Flick's tenure that the team trailed at home during halftime. However, Jules Koundé emerged as the hero after the restart, netting twice within the first 10 minutes of the second period to seal the victory.

This triumph proves essential following Barcelona's disappointing performance against Chelsea. The Catalan club now finds themselves close to securing automatic qualification for the knockout stages, with two manageable fixtures remaining in the Champions League group phase.

Playing their first Champions League fixture at Camp Nou in three years, Barcelona achieved their maiden victory over Eintracht Frankfurt, creating a memorable conclusion to their iconic stadium's return to European competition.

Barcelona Player Ratings vs. Eintracht Frankfurt (4-2-3-1)

*Ratings provided by FotMob*

GK: Joan García—7.2: Failed to advance from his line to narrow the angle for Frankfurt's opening goal and struggled with distribution throughout. Nevertheless, he excelled in the second half, commanding his area effectively to deal with crosses and prevent danger.

RB: Jules Koundé—9.3: The French defender appeared unsettled in the opening period but transformed after halftime. His first professional double secured Barcelona's victory, and he was defensively impeccable following his two goals.

CB: Pau Cubarsí—7.8: Delivered one of his finest defensive displays this season, positioning himself excellently to make key interceptions and vital clearances. Completed more passes (120) than any other player on the field.

CB: Gerard Martín—7.3: Will regret failing to cut out the pass leading to the opening goal but was otherwise defensively reliable. Also ventured forward and registered Barcelona's sole first-half shot on target.

LB: Alejandro Balde—7.2: His physical limitations were evident in Frankfurt's goal, but Balde performed adequately elsewhere, providing attacking width down the left side. Successfully neutralized Ritsu Doan's threat.

DM: Eric García—7.9: Enjoyed a composed evening, effectively balancing the team while protecting the defense and finishing as the most precise passer of the match.

CM: Pedri—8.0: More inconsistent than typical, yet maintained control of Barcelona's possession. His defensive contribution was outstanding, recording four recoveries and winning seven of eight challenges. Also helped close out the game in the final moments.

RW: Lamine Yamal—7.9: Struggled against Nathaniel Brown in their individual duel. Showed improvement after the break and provided an assist, though a reckless tackle earned him a booking that will rule him out of Barcelona's next Champions League encounter.

AM: Fermín López—6.7: Raphinha's frequent movement into central areas forced him to retreat deeper into midfield or drift wide where he's less effective. Made minimal impact and was substituted at halftime.

LW: Raphinha—6.9: Despite leading Barcelona's pressing game, he was unusually wasteful in the final third, misplacing passes and squandering his best scoring opportunity.

ST: Robert Lewandowski—6.6: Another match where his advancing years seemed apparent. The 37-year-old appeared sluggish and easily marked, managing only 19 touches and 10 completed passes before his substitution.

Subs not used: Marc-André ter Stegen (GK), Wojciech Szczęsny (GK), Jofre Torrents, Dro Fernandez, Marc Bernal, Marc Casadó.

Eintracht Frankfurt (4-2-3-1)

Starting XI: Michael Zetterer; Rasmus Kristensen, Robin Koch, Arthur Theate, Nathaniel Brown; Hugo Larsson, Ellyes Skhiri; Ritsu Doan, Mario Götze, Farès Chaïbi; Ansgar Knauff.

Subs used: Mahmoud Dahoud, Elye Wahi, Can Uzun, Jean Bahoya, Jessic Ngankam.

Player of the Match: Jules Koundé (Barcelona)

Barcelona 2–1 Eintracht Frankfurt—How It Unfolded at Camp Nou

Flick deployed his strongest lineup as Barcelona hosted their first Champions League match at Camp Nou in three years. The home side began aggressively, pressing high and seeking an early advantage.

Robert Lewandowski thought he had achieved exactly that when he converted a Raphinha delivery after 11 minutes. However, VAR intervention ruled out the goal due to the Brazilian being in an offside position when he delivered the cross.

The situation worsened when Eintracht Frankfurt opened the scoring with their first meaningful attack. Nathaniel Brown located Ansgar Knauff beyond Barcelona's high defensive line, and the German striker shielded the ball from Alejandro Balde before firing into the bottom corner.

Barcelona controlled the game for the rest of the first half, but their energy and intensity weren't matched by quality in the attacking third. Poor passing and inability to break down Frankfurt's defensive block characterized Barça's opening 45 minutes.

Flick introduced Marcus Rashford for the second half, and the substitution proved immediately effective. The English winger delivered a perfect cross from the left that Koundé met with a header to level the score within five minutes of the restart.

Three minutes later, the French defender completed his brace to turn the match around. This time, Lamine Yamal provided the cross to the far post, where Koundé rose highest to place his header inside the post and give Barcelona the lead.

Barcelona created several opportunities to extend their advantage in the following minutes, but lacked the clinical finishing typically associated with Flick's attack.

The failure to score a third goal made the closing stages tense, though the visitors never seriously threatened Barcelona's defense—unlike many recent opponents.

Flick's team managed to reach the final whistle without significant anxiety, claiming three crucial points as European football returned to Camp Nou.

Barcelona vs. Eintracht Frankfurt Half-Time Stats

Barcelona vs. Eintracht Frankfurt Full Time Stats