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Kounde Leads Barcelona Comeback as Nou Camp Champions League Return Ends in Victory

Barcelona marked their long-awaited return to Champions League football at the Nou Camp with a stirring 2–1 comeback win over Eintracht Frankfurt, driven by an unlikely brace from defender Jules Kounde. It was the club’s first match in Europe’s premier competition at their historic stadium in more than three years, adding emotional weight to an evening that began nervously but ended with renewed optimism.

The visitors stunned the home crowd in the 21st minute when Ansgar Knauff latched onto Nathaniel Brown’s precise through ball, holding off Alejandro Balde before placing a composed finish past Joan Garcia. Frankfurt, despite sitting seventh in the Bundesliga and arriving in Catalonia after a heavy 6–0 domestic defeat to RB Leipzig, showed greater sharpness in transition early on and could easily have doubled their lead as Ellyes Skhiri and Fares Chaibi both missed promising chances.

Barcelona’s transformation came with the introduction of Marcus Rashford at half-time. The England forward, on loan from Manchester United, immediately shifted the tempo. His curling delivery from the left was met powerfully by Kounde, who rose above two defenders to head in the equaliser in the 50th minute. Just three minutes later, the France international struck again, ghosting into space to convert Lamine Yamal’s cross from close range. It was the first brace of his Barcelona career and continued a trend of defenders making decisive contributions for the Catalans in Europe this season.

The win lifts Barcelona to 10 points from six matches, keeping them firmly in contention for a top-eight finish in the league-phase format. A place in the top bracket would send Hansi Flick’s side directly into the round of 16, avoiding the play-off round that has troubled the club in recent European campaigns. Flick’s men now turn their focus to Slavia Prague on 21 January before concluding the phase at home to Copenhagen.

This fixture also marked Barcelona’s fourth match back at the Nou Camp since it partially reopened following a £1.1bn redevelopment project. The stadium — under reconstruction since June 2023 — currently operates at a temporary capacity of 45,401, with work continuing on the top tier and roof as part of long-term plans to expand to 105,000 seats, which would make it one of the largest football arenas globally. The team has responded well to the homecoming, winning all four matches played there since the reopening.

Rashford spoke after the match about the significance of the occasion, describing the opportunity to play Champions League football at the Nou Camp as “an amazing experience.” He added that securing the three points was vital to maintaining momentum after their humbling 3–0 defeat at Chelsea earlier in the campaign.

Barcelona’s only setback on the night came in the form of a yellow card for teenage star Lamine Yamal, whose foul on Brown means he will miss the upcoming trip to Prague through suspension. Despite that, the Catalans will feel the tide is turning as they look to build consistency in a season marked by adaptation to new management, major squad changes, and the emotional return to their rebuilt home.

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