Still trailing, FC Barcelona relied on an unexpected double from French defender Jules Koundé on Tuesday to overthrow Frankfurt (2-1), and get back into the race for the knockout stages of the Champions League.
It seems that Barça needs to start with a handicap, to finally get their machine going. For the seventh time this season the Catalan giant folded first, before reacting in the second half thanks to two headers from Jules Koundé (50th, 53rd) to secure a crucial victory in the race for the top 8, synonymous with direct qualification for the 8th.
Despite total domination by the Catalans at the start of the match, it was the Germans who cooled the Camp Nou by taking advantage of a loss of the ball by Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal on a counter-attack concluded by Ansgar Knauff (21st, 1-0). Barça’s salvation then came from a surprising savior, French full-back Jules Koundé, in difficulty since the start of the season and author of a double header in three minutes (50th, 1-1, 53rd, 2-1) to revive his team.
Now 14th with 10 points, Barça, who remained in two European matches without a victory, will have to beat two affordable opponents in January to fulfill their contract: Slavia Prague and Copenhagen.
