Barcelona celebrated their long-awaited return to the Nou Camp in the Champions League with a dramatic comeback victory, beating Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 thanks to a powerful brace from defender Jules Kounde. The win keeps Barca firmly in contention for a top-eight finish as they aim to progress directly to the last 16.

This match marked Barcelona’s first Champions League fixture at their iconic home stadium in over three years—and they delivered a performance worthy of the occasion.

Frankfurt Strike First as Barca Struggle Early

The visitors stunned the Catalan crowd in the 21st minute when Ansgar Knauff latched onto a superb through ball from Nathaniel Brown. Knauff held off Alejandro Balde before calmly slotting past Joan Garcia to put Frankfurt ahead.

Despite Frankfurt’s recent struggles—highlighted by a heavy 6-0 defeat to RB Leipzig—the Bundesliga side looked dangerous on the break. Ellyes Skhiri and Fares Chaibi both fired over when presented with chances to double their lead.

Rashford Sparks a Turnaround

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick introduced Marcus Rashford at half-time, and the England forward made an instant impact.

Just five minutes after coming on, Rashford delivered a pinpoint cross that Kounde rose to meet, heading the ball into the bottom corner to level the match.

Three minutes later, Kounde struck again—this time converting a perfect ball from Lamine Yamal. Completely unmarked six yards out, the French international made no mistake, turning the game on its head and igniting the Nou Camp crowd.

The quick-fire double not only rescued Barca but highlighted Kounde’s growing importance in both defence and attack.

Barcelona Strengthen Their Position in the Group

With this vital win, Barcelona move to 10 points from six matches, keeping them firmly in the hunt for a top-eight finish. Achieving that spot would allow them to bypass the play-off round and progress directly into the last 16.

Flick’s side now face Slavia Prague on 21 January, before finishing the league phase back at home against Copenhagen a week later.

Frankfurt, meanwhile, sit on just four points from six outings and risk dropping out of European competition entirely unless they can stage a major turnaround.

Home Advantage Returns as Nou Camp Reopens

This was Barcelona’s fourth match at the Nou Camp since it reopened following major redevelopment works.
The stadium, originally closed in June 2023 for a £1.1bn renovation, is being modernised and expanded to a huge 105,000 capacity, which will make it one of the world’s largest sporting venues.

For now, the reopened sections hold 45,401 spectators, with work on the top tier and roof still ongoing. Despite the reduced capacity, Barca have won all four matches since returning to the historic ground.

Rashford Loving Life at Barcelona

Rashford, on a season-long loan from Manchester United, described the experience as “amazing” and emphasised how much he is enjoying his time in Spain.

“Playing Champions League football at the Nou Camp is amazing,” he said.
“The important thing was getting the points. We reacted well after conceding and controlled the game.”

His influence was clear, with his assist helping Barcelona regain momentum after a frustrating first half.

Setbacks and Suspensions

The only downside for Barcelona came when 16-year-old star Lamine Yamal received a second-half booking for a foul on Brown. The yellow card means he will be suspended for the trip to Prague—a significant blow given his role in Barca’s attacking creativity.

Still, the victory represents a crucial step forward for a Barcelona team that suffered a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Chelsea in their previous European outing.