Jules Kounde is not the first name Barcelona supporters expect to see rescuing a Uefa Champions League night at Camp Nou, and certainly not with a pair of headers.
Yet the French defender delivered the most improbable of match-winning turns on Tuesday, scoring twice in three second-half minutes to overturn a shock deficit and secure a vital 2-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt.
In Barca’s first Champions League match at their renovated home since 2022, Hansi Flick’s side not only kept their top-eight hopes alive but exorcised a ghost. Frankfurt had humiliated them in the Europa League that same year, flooding Camp Nou with travelling fans and exposing the fragility of Xavi’s Barcelona. On Tuesday the stadium belonged firmly to the hosts.
But it was far from simple.
Barcelona dominated the early exchanges, Robert Lewandowski seeing a goal chalked off for offside, only to be undone on 21 minutes by a sweeping Frankfurt counter. Lamine Yamal miscontrolled, Nathaniel Brown burst through midfield and slipped a pass beyond the high line. Ansgar Knauff brushed aside Alejandro Balde and finished clinically.
Frankfurt, thrashed 6-0 by RB Leipzig at the weekend, then had chances to add to their lead, Ellyes Skhiri flashing over from distance. Barça, frustrated and imprecise, trudged into half-time knowing their European campaign was slipping.
Flick needed a spark. He found one in Marcus Rashford.
On loan from Manchester United and still regaining rhythm, the winger immediately revitalised Barça’s right flank. He created one chance Raphinha squandered, then delivered an inch-perfect cross on 50 minutes for Kounde to rise and steer home.
“It was important Marcus was on the pitch,” said Flick. “He gave us the width.”
If the first header was assertive, the second was instinctive. Yamal floated a looping ball into the box, and Kounde nodded it back across goal. It dropped in at the far post, leaving even the defender baffled.
“I tried to put it back into that zone,” Kounde said. “I was surprised. Sometimes you need a bit of luck.”
Pedri, smiling, was more succinct: “I don’t think he meant it. But I’ll ask him.”
Barça could not kill the game with a third, and their inability to control the final 20 minutes kept 60,000 home fans tense. Yet Frankfurt, drained and short of ideas, never mounted a meaningful push for an equaliser. Barcelona now sit 14th in the league phase, two points off eighth-placed Liverpool, still within reach of avoiding the play-off round.
Spurs build momentum
Tottenham, meanwhile, extended their own resurgence with a comfortable 3-0 win over Slavia Prague, adding to Saturday’s overdue Premier League home victory over Brentford.
An early David Zima own goal settled nerves before second-half penalties from Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons made the points safe.
Thomas Frank praised the “positive offensive notes” but refused to be drawn on Spurs' top-eight Champions League prospects.
“We’re in a strong position for the play-offs,” he said. “That’s all I’m thinking about.”
The match also saw Mathys Tel make his first Champions League appearance following a late squad adjustment under Uefa’s injury rules. Dominic Solanke, out since August with an ankle injury, remains unavailable but Frank insisted: “No setback. Just an opportunity to get Tel in.”
The night belonged emotionally to Son Heung-min, who returned for the first time since his summer departure, greeting fans after a mural of him was unveiled outside the stadium.
“A true Tottenham legend coming home,” said Frank. “It was good to see him.”
Chelsea lose control in Bergamo
In Italy, Chelsea’s European progress was dealt a blow as they fell 2-1 to Atalanta after surrendering a first-half lead. Joao Pedro’s early strike gave Enzo Maresca’s side deserved control, but Gianluca Scamacca was left unmarked to head the equaliser before Charles De Ketelaere powered in a late winner.
“After the goal we conceded, we lost control,” Maresca admitted. “We can avoid both the goals.”
Substitutions also disrupted rhythm, with Trevoh Chalobah withdrawn due to a yellow card and fatigue.
Chelsea must now win their final two fixtures – Pafos at home and a daunting trip to champions Napoli – to have any realistic hope of reaching the top eight.
Their schedule could soon become even more congested. A February play-off round looms unless Maresca finds consistency quickly.
