It was a drama-filled conclusion to Group H, as Royal Antwerp secured their first Champions League win with an emphatic 3-2 victory over Barcelona, who still topped the group with better head-to-head records against Porto.
2023/2024 UEFA Champions League
3-2
Antwerp, the group’s bottom side, took a stunning lead after 76 seconds when 18-year-old Arthur Vermeeren struck venomously beyond Inaki Pena.
Ferran Torres cancelled out the teenager’s opener ten minutes before the break with a fine equaliser as Lamine Yamal became the first 16-year-old to register an assist in the competition’s history.
But Xavi’s side found themselves behind again when Antwerp capitalised on some sloppy Barcelona play on the edge of the box before Vincent Janssen excellently finished.
Barcelona thought they had saved themselves from an embarrassing result when Marc Guiu equalised in the dying moments, but it was ecstasy for Antwerp when George Ilenikhena restored the Belgian’s lead in the 93rd minute.
Match Events
2' GOAL! Royal Antwerp 1-0 Barcelona (Arthur Vermeeren)
9' Janssen's shot stopped
35' GOAL! Royal Antwerp 1-1 Barcelona (Ferran Torres)
42' Yellow Card! Lamine Yamal booked
54' Yellow Card! Roberto booked
56' GOAL! Royal Antwerp 2-1 Barcelona (Vincent Janssen)
59' Yamal hits the bar
86' Kounde's long shot stopped
Line-ups
Royal Antwerp XI: Ritchie De Laet, Alderweireld, Jean Butez, Vincent Janssen, Gyrano Kerk, Owen Wijndal, Chidera Ejuke, Alhassan Yusuf, Soumaïla Coulibaly, Mandela Keita, Arthur Vermeeren
Subs: Ortwin De Wolf, Jelle Bataille, Senne Lammens, Zeno Van Den Bosch, George Ilenikhena, Kobe Corbanie, Milan Smits
Barcelona XI: Lewandowski, Romeu, Roberto, Christensen, Pena, Ferran Torres, Kounde, Álex Baldé, Fermín López, Lamine Yamal, Héctor Fort
Subs: Gundogan, Cancelo, Raphinha, Felix, Pedri, Marc Casadó, Aleix Garrido, Ángel Alarcón, Ander Astralaga, Pau Cubarsí, Diego Kochen, Marc Guiu