Jules Kounde was the unlikely hero as his double powered Barcelona to a 2-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt to boost their Champions League hopes.
2025/2026 UEFA Champions League
2-1
Match Report
Ansgar Knauff fired the visitors ahead on Tuesday, only for Kounde to inspire a second-half turnaround to move Barcelona up to 14th and just two points shy of the top eight.
Robert Lewandowski saw an early strike ruled out for offside in the build-up against Raphinha, before Gerard Martin stung the palms of Michael Zetterer from range in a one-sided opening.
But it was Eintracht who struck first against the run of play when Knauff beat Alejandro Balde to Nathaniel Brown's throughball and steered into the bottom-right corner in the 21st minute.
The visitors almost doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time, though Ellyes Skhiri's first-time effort flew just over the top-right corner.
A half-time change made the difference, however, as substitute Marcus Rashford curled in for Kounde to head home in the 50th minute.
Defender Kounde then struck again just three minutes later, rising the highest to nod past Setterer after a teasing Lamine Yamal delivery from the left-hand side.
Ferran Torres whistled a fierce effort wide as Barcelona sought to put the game to bed, though Eintracht could not mount a late comeback regardless.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WIN pic.twitter.com/SQMomAkXGQ
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona" >@FCBarcelona) December 9, 2025
Data Debrief: Yamal makes more history
Yamal has now been directly involved in 14 goals in the Champions League for Barcelona (seven goals, seven assists).
His well-weighted delivery for Kounde's second saw Yamal overtake Kylian Mbappe (13) for the most goal involvements by a player aged 18 or younger in the competition's history (since 1992-93).
Kounde also became the first Barcelona player to score two headed goals in a single Champions League match, though Hansi Flick will have felt a victory was the least his side deserved.
They accumulated 1.43 expected goals (xG) to Eintracht's 0.77, eventually managing to get over the line for a vital victory in their quest for automatic qualification to the knockout stages.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
10' Lewandowski scores but it's ruled out because Raphinha has been offside
13' Martin has a shot from distance which is saved
21' GOAL! Knauff opens the scoring to give visitors lead! Barcelona 0-1 Frankfurt
30' Knauff makes a foul but he does not get his second yellow card
40' Eric Garcia has a foul but no yellow card
46' Skhiri has a shot which is just over the bar
46' Rashford comes on to replace Fermin
50' GOAL! Kounde equalizes from Rashford's great cross!Barcelona 1-1 Frankfurt
53' GOAL! Koundé heads brace to turn it around! Barcelona 2-1 Frankfurt
56' Yellow Card! Yamal booked and he will miss the next game
59' Rashford goes for goal but it's blocked
65' Ferran and De Jong come on to replace Lewandowski and Raphinha
68' Yamal finds Ferran whose shot is just wide
70' Highlight from Barcelona vs Frankfurt
88' Match Event for Barcelona vs Frankfurt
Line-ups
Barcelona XI: Lewandowski, Raphinha, Kounde, Eric Garcia, Pedri, Joan García, Balde, Fermín López, Yamal, Gerard Martín, Cubarsi
Subs: Szczesny, Ter Stegen, Christensen, De Jong, Rashford, Ferran Torres, Casado, Roony Bardghji, Dro Fernández, Bernal, Jofre Torrents
Frankfurt XI: Gotze, Michael Zetterer, Skhiri, Koch, Ritsu Doan, Rasmus Kristensen, Ansgar Knauff, Arthur Theate, Hugo Larsson, Nathaniel Brown, Farès Chaïbi
Subs: Jens Grahl, Dahoud, Aurélio Buta, Jessic Ngankam, Elye Wahi, Nnamdi Collins, Aurèle Amenda, Can Uzun, Jean-Mattéo Bahoya, Elias Baum, Oscar Højlund, Kauã Santos