Barcelona secured a vital 2-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, marking a successful return to European elite competition at the newly renovated Camp Nou thanks to a decisive second-half brace from defender Jules Koundé.
The highly anticipated fixture, the first Champions League match at the iconic stadium in over three years, saw the Catalan giants fall behind when Eintracht Frankfurt’s Ansgar Knauff delivered a “shock lead” in the 21st minute after a rapid counter-attack.
The mood shifted dramatically after the interval. French international Koundé emerged as the unlikely hero, scoring two headers in a frantic three-minute spell early in the second half. He first netted from a precise cross delivered by half-time substitute Marcus Rashford in the 50th minute, then followed up with a “much more difficult header” from a Lamine Yamal delivery in the 53rd minute to complete the comeback.
The victory, achieved under the management of Hansi Flick, was essential for the La Liga leaders, boosting their hopes of securing a top-eight finish in the new 36-team league phase format.
The match also served as a moment of redemption for Barcelona, who were seeking revenge against the Frankfurt side that eliminated them from the Europa League in 2022. The victory lifts Barcelona to 14th in the league phase table, just two points shy of the automatic qualification spots.
