In a thrilling high-stakes UEFA Champions League encounter, FC Barcelona delivered a commanding 2-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt.
Frankfurt struck first in the 20th minute via Ansgar Knauff’s left-footed finish from Nathaniel Brown’s assist, silencing the home crowd.
Barcelona roared back post-halftime: Jules Koundé equalized in the 49th minute with a towering header from Marcus Rashford’s cross, then doubled up three minutes later, nodding in Lamine Yamal’s delivery from a corner to flip the script.
Substitutions like Rashford and Frenkie de Jong bolstered Barcelona’s dominance, while Frankfurt’s counters fizzled.
The victory propelled Barcelona forward in the standings, showcasing their resilience under Hansi Flick.
Here are the Barcelona player ratings:
Joan García (6/10)
Made several crucial early saves to thwart Frankfurt’s probing counters and maintain parity through the first half pressure.
Distribution wobbled under relentless pressing, leading to turnovers that nearly cost Barcelona during tense defensive moments.
Alejandro Balde (5/10)
Bombed forward to aid attacks but abandoned defensive duties too often, leaving the left channel exposed to Frankfurt’s pace.
Knauff repeatedly burned him on breaks, directly factoring into the visitors’ clinical opening goal from a swift transition.
Gerard Martín (7/10)
Filled in competently at left-back after Balde’s tiring, providing defensive cover against Frankfurt’s late counters.
Lacked attacking thrust from wide areas, with crosses failing to trouble the visitors’ backline significantly.
Pau Cubarsí (7/10)
Exuded calm authority in possession, slicing through Frankfurt’s press with accurate progressive passes to spark transitions.
Dominated aerial contests but got stranded on the counter-attack goal, highlighting vulnerabilities in the high-line setup.
Jules Koundé (9/10)
Provided a decisive contribution with two crucial headers, which sparked Barcelona’s fightback against Frankfurt’s stubborn defense.
Shifted seamlessly across the backline without Araujo, providing stability while limiting Frankfurt’s wide threats effectively.
Eric García (7.5/10)
Marshaled the defense competently against the low block, ensuring a structured build-up from deep positions under duress.
A couple of errant passes broke rhythm and invited counters, though he recovered well to avert immediate danger.
Pedri (8/10)
Orchestrated midfield play with visionary through-balls that fashioned Barcelona’s prime scoring windows throughout.
Second-half fatigue dulled his edge, conceding duels as Frankfurt’s targeted disruptions hampered his influence.
Fermín López (6.5/10)
Infused energy via aggressive high pressing that reclaimed possession in dangerous zones on multiple occasions.
Botched a prime opportunity inside the penalty area, displaying insufficient poise when clinical finishing was paramount.
Raphinha (7/10)
Hovered on the left flank yet produced crosses and cuts that sailed harmlessly over or wide of the packed box.
Visibly irritated by the stubborn defensive wall, his direct contributions remained negligible against disciplined marking.
Lamine Yamal (.57/10)
Lit up proceedings with a crucial assist and mesmerizing dribbles that dismantled defenders and forged early pathways for teammates.
Squandered set-pieces and long-range efforts, demanding greater precision to convert flair into tangible goal threats.
Robert Lewandowski (5.5/10)
Toiled as the focal outlet, linking play adeptly but starved of quality supply in scoring positions.
Repeatedly snared by the offside trap, muting his presence against Frankfurt’s astute defensive organization.
Marcus Rashford ( 7.5/10)
Burst into life with electric pace down the left, delivering the killer cross for Koundé’s vital equalizer early in the second half.
Drew fouls and stretched the weary defense, creating space that reignited Barcelona’s momentum during the comeback push.
Ferran Torres (7/10)
Added fresh legs up top, pressing aggressively to disrupt Frankfurt’s build-up and win back possession high.
Tested the keeper with a curling effort but lacked the final touch in crowded boxes during frantic exchanges.
Frenkie de Jong (7/10)
Restored midfield control with smart positioning, breaking up play, and recycling possession smoothly under pressure.
Injected progressive passes that carved openings, though fatigue limited his influence in the dying embers.
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